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Posted by on May 31, 2015 in Blog, General Poker, World Series of Poker | 2 comments

Bjorin to be Wild (Chris Bjorin Back at the 2015 WSOP, and Cashing Again)

 

nolan-dalla-chris-bjorn

 

Trivia:  Identify the following individual.

Who’s ranked in the top ten of most number of cashes in history at the World Series of Poker….and who has won two career WSOP gold bracelets….and who’s earned more than $5.5 million just in poker tournaments alone….and who’s cashed in the Main Event Championship four consecutive years (then, a record)….and who made the world championship final table the same year Stu Ungar won his last title….and yet, who plays poker only part-time, with the bulk of his actual winnings as a full-time professional gambler coming from not from cards, but rather from sports wagering and horseracing?

 

Here’s another hint:  He’s one of the least conspicuous players in poker, seemingly invisible inside any cardroom, yet is a giant among gamblers because he’s not only overcome the odds and prospered for so long in such a variety of different endeavors — somehow managing to support himself by one holy virtue –which is looking for edges and then pouncing on opportunity; Just as impressive, he always conducted himself with pure class.

So, who is this person we may have seen but probably don’t know?  The correct answer is:  Chris Bjorin

Bjorin has been a role model in a game that needs role models.  He’s been inspiring me for nearly 20 years, dating back to much earlier times in both of our lives when he was one of the few players who played at the WSOP with a foreign accent.  The first time I remember having a conversation with him was on Day Three of the 1997 Main Event Championship, where he made the final table that year.

Born in Sweden, Bjorin has called London his home for many decades now, raising a family, and maintaining what can best be described as a low profile among the far flashier, but far less-lasting compatriots who bet big and yet never sweat results.  Call him the anti-baller.  He’s the polka verse in a rap song.  Let’s just say you won’t ever see Bjorin wearing dark shades and a hoodie.  Think chateaubriand as the centerpiece on a table full of hamburgers.

Earlier today, I saw Bjorin for the first time in more than a year.  This was quite a pleasant reunion, and frankly, a bit of a relief.  He didn’t make it at all to the WSOP last year.  I wondered if something might have happened to him and was becoming deeply concerned when no one in poker had seen him either, even competing in European tournaments.  However, Bjorin stopped by just as he was racking up the 69th cash of his illustrious career, a good way to start the 2015 series.  We shared a few laughs together at the payout table (see photo above).

True to his Swedish character, Bjorin is quietly reserved and humble about both his astute talent and his many accomplishments.  But he does enjoy many of the finer things in life.  Here’s one of my favorite Chris Bjorin stories, which is actually a little bit embarrassing.  So, let me tell it now.

Quite a few years ago, Chris and I were talking during a poker break about fine dining.  We instantly discovered a mutual love for five-star restaurants and vintage wine.  We agreed that at some point in the near future, we’d share a meal together when our schedules were mutually convenient.  That didn’t happen often, since I usually worked the events Chris was playing in, and he often went deep in tournaments.  The years passed and the conversation faded from memory.

When we were in London in 2008, which is Chris’s hometown and one of the world’s most expensive cities with so many splendid restaurants, Chris approached and reminded me of our prior conversation.   He said he’d picked out the perfect restaurant.  Apparently, it was some fancy Japanese place that was impossible to get into — at least for normal people.  But Chris was known and had Carte Blanche just about anywhere in town that required a dress code.  I wouldn’t have been surprised if he could book Buckingham Palace.  I certainly looked forward to our dinner together, which was scheduled for the following evening.

Somehow, a few other poker players heard about our dinner engagement and someone came over to me while I was at the Empire Casino centered in Leicester Square, expressing some envy that I was so privileged to be joining Chris alone at his private table.  I didn’t understand what all the fuss was about.  Then, I was told that Chris was so heavy into fine dining that he often feasted on five-course meals, and ordered ridiculously expensive wine.  Sometimes, even alone.

“So what do you mean by expensive wine,” I asked.  “Are we talking about $100 a bottle?”

“Yeah right, add two zeros to that,” my trusted source said.  “I’ve seen Chris order bottles of wine that are worth more than my car.”

After that conversation, I admit to feeling some intimidation.  I replayed the prior conversation in my head again.  “Let’s go to dinner.”  Does that mean we go out someplace and then split the check?  I’m certainly not cheap.  But the prospect of being whacked for a 4-dime dinner bill in London wasn’t my cup of tea.

The following evening, Chris and I walked several blocks and came upon the Japanese restaurant.  My idea of Japanese is dining at Benihana, with onion volcanoes and kitschy conversation.  Plus, I abhor sushi.  Did Chris’ notion of eating Japanese consist of some exotic bluefin tuna cut into tiny balls and then served cold with sticky rice?  Plus a bottle of wine that cost several thousand dollars?  Fuck that.

But what do you say?  It’s Chris Bjorin.  Have faith.

We enjoyed a wonderful meal, with Chris ordering a bunch of things I’d never heard before and still can’t pronounce to this day.  All I know is, it tasted good and was interesting fare.  As Chris ordered the wine, however, I couldn’t help but fear what dusty Grand Cru might be pulled from the cellar.  I never saw the list and didn’t know the prices.  Chris ordered something expensive, and I figure that every sip was costing me the equivalent of my monthly electric bill.

After a splendid two-hour dinner and conversation, the bill finally came.  A small leather folder with a white slip of paper was placed on the center of the table and I stared at it like an audit notice from the IRS.  Oh shit, I thought.  What if Chris wants to go Dutch?  Do I have a credit card with $4,000 in available credit?  How bad is this going to look?  How exactly does one propose to wash $4,000 dollars worth of dirty dishes?

After another refill on coffees, Chris finally slowly leaned forward and began to reach for the check.  This triggered one of those awkward pauses, the halfhearted — you know — “oh here, let me get that” reflex — while silently hoping his hand is much faster than mine so as to escape the machete of being disemboweled by the most expensive meal I’ve ever eaten — multiplied several times over.

That said, once the check hit his hands, I still wasn’t in the clear.  Chris might say, “okay, so let’s divide it in two….with tax and tip, it comes to 2,600 pounds each.” 

Of course, Chris did what anyone who knows him would expect — he didn’t bat an eyelash and paid the bill in full, noting he enjoyed the company and enjoyed sharing some reflections of the restaurant.  I never saw the bill, nor do I recall exactly what wine was ordered.  What I do know is, I still owe him a dinner, presumably here in Las Vegas, and I intend to return the generosity.

Here and now, Chris is invited any night to join me at Buzio’s for dinner (WSOP at the Rio).  I’m buying.  He can even order one of my private stock of trouts.  Just let me pick the wine.  If I take him out 40 times, I figure we’ll about be even.

In all seriousness, it’s really great to see Chris Bjorin back again here at the WSOP where he belongs, at the place where he could so often be seen in the past — at the cash-out table.

Note:  See a history of Chris Bjorin’s WSOP results HERE

2 Comments

  1. Nollan, Loved your story! Just thought id let you know that your my favorite poker writer. friends aways,Eddie

  2. So… what wine was enjoyed? Did I miss it?

    As always, nice poker stories from you.

    Reading your blog, watching your videos… really makes a damp, cool blah rainy day in north east PA more bearable… especially when you thought you’d be in all the 2015 Vegas action.

    Thanks Nolan.

    Oh, by the way. MORE VIDEOS PLEASE.

    (WAITER!! BRING US MORE WINE.. SOMETHING… ANYTHING EXCEPT MERLOT)

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