While the man who holds a Ph.D in particle physics can explain the intricacies of quantum chromodynamics to you, Michael Binger has had a hard time even spelling c-a-s-h recently. “In January at the Bahamas I cashed, but since then I’ve gone 22 straight tournaments without making the money,” Michael told me during a recent break in the $5,000 No-Limit Hold'em event. “It’s been a brutal run of cards…and just a bit disheartening.”
It’s a streak he has quickly reversed. With the money bubble finally busted in the $5,000 No-Limit Hold'em event, Michael now has five cashes in nine events at the 2007 WSOP. Last summer, he cashed in two events, making the final table in both. He took home $101,570 for a 6th place finish in a $1,500 event, then ten days later placed 3rd in the main event.
“I like the structures here at the World Series, and the fields are so weak. The cards have been good to me too. There were three times in a row during WPT events that I had aces all-in three times preflop going for the chip lead, but ended up losing. Here, I’ve caught some breaks. I flopped eight sets yesterday!”
Playing good poker seems to run in the Binger family; younger brother Nick has had a steady stream of cashes since December. Nick just missed the final table at the $1,500 Pot Limit Hold'em tournament last week, while Mike’s best finish this summer is 14th in the $1,000 No-Limit Hold'em rebuy event.
Watching his brother Nick do well has encouraged Michael to still come out swinging. If anything, enduring those long months of frustration has made his recent success that much more fulfilling.
"It’s been really nice to be in the thick of things. It’s been fun going deep again. For months on end I was thinking, ‘Poker’s just not fun anymore.’"
While Michael was excited about his good run of cards so far, he still feels like he has his work cut out for him. "I think the record for cashes in a year is eight. While that would be a nice record to have, my first goal is to make a final table and, most importantly, to win a bracelet."
