By Sean Chaffin
The last time Pat Lyons played in the WPT Five Diamond World Poker Classic, the tour regular scored a massive win – just not exactly at the poker table. In 2019, Lyons made some huge wagers on the Chiefs-Chargers NFL game. The Chiefs entered the game 11-2 with their divisional foe at 10-3.
The Chargers, a 3.5-point underdog, staged a late rally, scored a touchdown with only seconds left, and then went for the 2-point conversion to win the game. The gamble worked and the team came out victorious for a nice upset.
The finish was also a nice victory for Lyons. He had two Moneyline wagers on the Chargers for a total of $130,000. With that amazing finish and Chargers win, those tickets returned $369,000.
Lyons also cashed a $110,000 straight bet ticket on the Chargers for another $210,000. In total, the win brought a profit of $339,000 on bets of $240,000.
Additionally, Lyons also took 45th in the Five Diamond for $37,670. He’s now trying to make an even bigger score and sat among the chip leaders as Day 3 moved into the evening at Bellagio. While Lyons doesn’t have any big NFL action planned this weekend, he does have a nice feeling about No. 2 Michigan against No. 3 Georgia in the NCAA football playoffs. The Wolverines are a 7.5-point underdog to the Bulldogs in the matchup. While he likes that bet, Lyons seems more focused on the task at hand – winning the Five Diamond. He feels confident about his skills at the tables, especially if he can reach the final table.
“I love Michigan versus Georgia moneyline,” he says. “But I’d rather bet on myself, make the final table and take my guaranteed money and put $200,000 on myself against the other five opponents to win the whole thing. Maybe I can get the book to give me six-to-one odds. If they’ll do it, I’ll do it in a second.
“I don’t know any five players in this field, none, who can beat me for $1.2 million. I don’t give a shit who it is. That’s the honest truth.”
Lyons feels he has some characteristics that would help land the seven-figure payout if he can get to the final table.
“I’m too good and my heart’s too crazy,” he says. “I’ll gamble the whole $1.2 million.”
No big sports bets are planned as of now, but Lyons admits he just might make a trip to the betting window for that Michigan wager. Maybe even a bit more. Whether he wins on that one or not, Flyin’ Lyons remains confident in his skills at the table and an even deeper run in the Five Diamond.
“I like myself just making the final table and I don’t know any five players who want to gamble their money against me,” he says. “I don’t care if they have more chips, I have too much skill.”
Sean Chaffin is a freelance writer based in New Mexico and Texas. His work appears in numerous websites and publications. Follow him on Twitter @PokerTraditions.