playMGMpoker.com Qualifier David Coleman Is a Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing

By Matt Clark

The field in the Season XVI WPT Five Diamond World Poker Classic is more than 800 entries. Of those registered in this record-breaking field, five from New Jersey earned their seats through an online satellite on playMGMpoker.com.

David Coleman (pictured) was among the players to win his seat, but unlike the average satellite winner, Coleman is accustomed to loads of tournament success. According to PocketFives.com, Coleman’s won over $857,000 playing online in his home state of New Jersey. For the better part of 2017, Coleman’s screen name has been listed at or near the top of New Jersey’s online rankings.

Now that’s he’s turned a $535 qualifier into a $10,400 seat, Coleman is on a stage allowing him to show off the skills he’s honed in New Jersey.

This year marks the first year of the partnership between the World Poker Tour and playMGMpoker.com, and Coleman looks forward to more years of New Jersey players having the chance to play in events like WPT Five Diamond.

“It’s good because we have a growing field and it’s nice that NJ players have the chance to play,” Coleman told WPT.com.

The live game is something Coleman is always working to improve and his time put in paid dividends when he notched four cashes in this summer’s World Series of Poker with one of those being a WSOP Main Event payout.

Coleman’s poker skill is something he prides himself in and he does not feel out of place in an event as prestigious as WPT Five Diamond.

“I was excited,” Coleman said upon winning the satellite seat. “It’s the second $10,000 buy-in I’ve ever played. I didn’t know what the quality of play would be like. To be honest, I thought it would be a lot tougher. It’s exciting to get out of New Jersey and see if I can hang with the best.”

Hanging is an understatement for Coleman’s play so far, as he started Day 2 among the bigger stacks with more than 90,000 and he’s maintained that stack throughout Day 2.

When 2017 started, Coleman did not expect to be in Las Vegas come December and is enjoying his chance at battling with a field he thinks he competes well against.

“I thought the field was going to be high roller bosses, but there’s a ton of recreational players,” Coleman said. “Figured I was going to play the [WSOP] Main Event this year, but I didn’t think I would be playing this. I will definitely be coming back in the future because I see the value in this event.”

The New Jersey online scene has fared well in live events this year with Scott Blumstein winning the WSOP Main Event and Thomas Pomponio taking down the Colossus to start the summer. Coleman hopes to join them as he battles on Day 2 with many days of poker left to follow before Sunday’s final table.

“I’m just going to focus on myself and play my game to the best I can,” Coleman said. “It’d be cool, for sure. Bring a trophy home to NJ. That would be nice.”

If you’d like to win your way to a World Poker Tour event for your shot at becoming a WPT champion, check out ClubWPT.com where you can play for your chance to compete on the World Poker Tour. Eligible VIP Members can play for over $100,000 in cash and prizes each month, including seats to WPT events, no purchase necessary.