ClubWPT Qualifier Jim McLaughlin Hopes the Third Time's the Charm

By Matt Clark

The ClubWPT VIP experience is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for players who qualify online via ClubWPT.com to earn their World Poker Tour seat. Most players only have the chance to compete once and Jim McLaughlin (pictured) is playing in his third WPT event as a result of qualifying on ClubWPT.com.

The 74-year-old McLaughlin hails from Broomall, Pennsylvania, and previously participated in the WPT500 at ARIA in Las Vegas along with the WPT Borgata Poker Open. Upon qualifying for this week’s event, McLaughlin told WPT.com he “couldn’t possibly believe it” and already today, McLaughlin is playing triple the starting stack of 30,000.

Play in Day 1b is more than halfway completed and McLaughlin is tempering his expectations and trying to maximize his experience at Borgata while sharing it with his wife Nancy.

As McLaughlin played his way toward qualifying for a seat, his intensity ratcheted up to where Nancy exclaimed, “you’re going to have a goddamn heart attack.”

McLaughlin was elated to win his seat and grew in excitement as he pulled near the VIP experience he knew was awaiting him at the Borgata.

“I couldn’t possibly believe it,” McLaughlin said. “As each player got knocked out at the final table, I started thinking, ‘you’re getting closer, again and again.’”

The opportunity offered to McLaughlin and his wife is something he does not take for granted and he even though it is his third time playing, McLaughlin remains amazed.

“I am so thankful for the [WPT] hierarchy,” McLaughlin said. “They are so wonderful. We are just grateful for the treatment we have received. We have been treated like royalty. Here we are, just a bunch of geezer nobodies from podunk Pennsylvania, and here we are being treated like king and queen.”

McLaughlin is taking the Borgata Poker Open a day at a time and has his eyes firmly set on making Day 2. The money bubble won’t be in play until Day 3 and McLaughlin is not even close to ready to think about cashing for the first time on the World Poker Tour.

“I don’t think I can grasp the concept of that just yet,” said McLaughlin. “I know have an uphill climb. Who wouldn’t love to win money? I would love to get to Day 2. To me, that would we be one of the most self-satisfying accomplishments.”

The accomplishments on McLaughlin’s life resume are already impressive enough, regardless of how he finishes this week. McLaughlin and Nancy both earned their GEDs after dropping out of high school and through a tuition reimbursement program, McLaughlin went on to earn Associate’s, Bachelor’s, and MBA degrees.

McLaughlin and his oldest daughter received their Bachelor’s degree in 1986 from Villanova University and shared the moment in the same commencement ceremony.

McLaughlin worked as bus driver for the city of Philadelphia until he retired at the age of 53. Out of 5,000 employees eligible for the tuition reimbursement program, he was one of two who enrolled and completed their degree.

That level of determination carries over to the poker table for McLaughlin, who has been playing the game since 2004 when he first saw the World Poker Tour on television.

As play gradually moves toward Day 2 at the WPT Borgata Poker Open, McLaughlin approaches his goal of advancing in a World Poker Tour event.

There may be players with more experience in this week’s event but few can claim to be as tenacious as McLaughlin as he attempts to make his poker dreams come true.

Looking to win your way to a World Poker Tour event for your shot at becoming a WPT champion? Play for your chance on ClubWPT.com, where eligible VIP Members can play for over $100,000 in cash and prizes each month, including seats to WPT events, no purchase necessary.