Before Chris Moneymaker won the WSOP, propelling the game into a Cinderella fantasy, I got to know many professional players during my trips to Tunica, Mississippi. There were no fans. There was no television. Jack Binion’s World Poker Open was a refuge for hardcore players, looking for a chance to do what they did best. And I knew when I stepped into the GoldStrike’s ballroom, I could always count on seeing Amir Vahedi. But no more.

Amir Vahedi died on January 8th.

Vahedi cashed at the World Poker Open in 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2007. Overall, he grossed over $3 million in tournament poker and won his WSOP bracelet in a $1500 No Limit Hold’em Event in 2003. That year he would also make the final table of the Championship Event and finish in 6th place — the year Chris Moneymaker altered poker’s history. I will remember Amir not only for his skill, but for his kindness and seemingly endless ability to make those around him enjoy the game he loved.

I have missed the early days of Tunica, before Harrah’s decided to try to muscle in on the World Poker Open. (I wrote about the effects of the “whose is bigger” standoff here.) They were the days when players were players were showered with comps and solid players like Bob “Buzz Saw” Mangino were afforded the same respect and courtesies as the big name pros.

I used to look forward to my yearly January trip to Tunica. But I passed on it the last couple of years, not wanting to see the decimated aftermath of Harrah’s shortsightedness. But habits die hard and I still get the itch every January to play. So when the Poker Shrink suggested a pokerboyz trip to Biloxi in January, I was all in – especially when I heard rggator and Idoru99 were definites. There were even rumors that Zipman might also put in a rare appearance. I launched a new newsletter at work, which was going to keep me busy right up until the New Year. But I had a window of opportunity for some time off just after.

I had never been to Biloxi but had heard great things about the Beau Rivage. I flew out Sunday, January 3rd. Waiting in the Houston airport, the woman next to me asked, “Are you going to the boats?” Although Biloxi changed its laws about casinos and their proximity to the water, many still hugged the shores of the Gulf — and they were still referred to as “the boats.” I asked how she knew. She said there were only two groups that took the flight from Houston to Biloxi, the military and gamblers.

When I deplaned, Idoru was waiting at my gate and together we took the scenic route by cab to the Beau. It was like a mini-Bellagio and every bit as nice as I had heard. The rooms were stunning. The poker room was beautiful and busy. And by nightfall, we had a pokerboyz quorum, with Zippy as the guest of honor. Wildbill and Debonair were sorely missed and maligned.

Later in the week, we also bumped into Ranger Rick. And although I missed her, apparently the pokergoddess was dealing at the Beau. Man I would have liked to have seen Carol. She rocks.

Over the next few days, I played a lot of poker and remained true to my Bubble Girl reputation. I made two final tables (no cash). I also finished 11th in the Beau’s Wednesday night tournament. It had over a 100 runners, but sadly only paid nine places. I think I was the only one who went scoreless among the boyz. Even so, I laughed harder than I have in a long time, even snorting on several occasions. In almost every respect, Biloxi lived up to my “old Tunica” expectations.

Even the tournament staffs were the same. Johnny Grooms and Kenny Lambert headed up the action at the Beau. In his spare time, Jimmy Sommerfeld played the Beau. Although he was in Tunica to kick off some great tournaments over at the IP. While it will be weeks before the “TV” pros come in for the WPT event, I saw tons of the solid players I could count on seeing in Tunica.

In Tunica of yore, you could count on free food and booze. Unfortunately this tradition is long gone from poker. But the food in Biloxi was fantastic. The breakfast buffet at the Beau had four kinds of grits, every sausage, hash and potato you could dream of, omelet and carving stations, and eggs benedict and florentine. I had delicious seared Tuna with a wasabe sauce in the cafe. And the IP’s Asian restaurant tien was as good as its reputation. Idoru and rggator also highly recommended Carnival de Brasil churrascaria at the IP.

I would go back the Beau Rivage in a heartbeat. And I truly expect it to become my new January tradition.

Pictures: Amir Vahedi, Johnny Grooms, and Kenny Lambert and me – all from Tunica 2006.