He also credited the Irishman with internationalizing poker tournaments by running tourneys on the Isle of Man and by overseeing the Championship of South Africa. McEvoy, who proudly introduced me to his longtime friend, vividly remembers the good time that he had in Ireland when he won the Irish Eccentric International No-Limit Hold'em Poker Tournament in 1983, the same year than he won the WSOP title. Rogers also recalls the '83 event. Michael Cook from London was runner-up, and Jim Spain came in third. I finished fourth, but the only person who remembers that is me.
People only remember the winners.
Lots of hustlers of off-beat gaming descended upon the hotel. One international backgammon player succeeded in getting a hotel room and challenged all and sundry. He was having a ball until he succeeded in involving Puggy Pearson. Against my wishes, Pug put manners on him. I do believe that Puggy gave him a handkerchief to cry into, having gotten all the cash that the gentleman had.