Fans of James Woods were given a chance to buy a piece of him this week. Not in his next movie, but in the 2021 WSOP Event #40: $10,000 H.O.R.S.E. Championship. So far, the actor's performance is going well, with Woods making Day 2 of the event with a healthy stack of 189,000 in chips, with the betting levels starting on Day 2 at 3,000-6,000.
The actor sold a portion of his action in the event on StakeKings. Allen Kessler tweeted his excitement at being able to get in on the action.
"Welcome @RealJamesWoods to the @StakeKings roster of players!" Kessler wrote. "His 1st package is up for the WSOP $10,000 HORSE! James has already cashed 4 times in the 2021 WSOP!"
Mixed response
Woods is a somewhat controversial figure in the poker world and the announcement received mixed responses to match. These ranged from "He's a stupid person and an a**hole," to "Good luck, Mr. Woods."
He also annoyed a certain proportion of the poker world recently when Matt Vaughn called him out by jumping the payout queues.
"James Woods cutting the payout line feels like insult to injury after busting," Vaughn wrote. "JK he’s famous and therefore better than me."
Even so, Woods sold out his package in pretty short order. Why he's having to sell action is another matter entirely.
Woods hasn't appeared on the big screen since 2014's Jamesy Boy. Not having movie money rolling in might make a $10k event a little to expensive for a hobbyist.
This may be because Hollywood leans liberal and James Woods leans strongly to the right. It may also be because of the 2017 story in Variety in which Amber Tamblyn accused him of trying to pick her and her friend up and take her to Vegas when she was just 16.
It could also just be that at the age of 74 he wants to take it easy, kick back, and play a little poker.
Whatever the reason, his time off from cinema might explain why the star of Disney's Hercules is having to sell off the majority share of a $10k buy-in. It also might explain how he's had the time and motivation to sharpen up his mixed game poker skills.
Why stake Woods?
Woods has cashed four times this series, all in non-hold'em events. Specifically, the 2021 WSOP Event #5: Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better (73rd — $2,400), the 2021 WSOP Event #18: Mixed Triple Draw Lowball (Limit) (14th — $6,579), the 2021 WSOP Event #27: H.O.R.S.E. (28th — $4,505), and the 2021 WSOP Event #32: H.O.R.S.E. (30th — $5,269). Over his entire poker career, he's logged $353,501 in live poker tournament cashes. His biggest ever win was $39,859 for 24th at the 2006 L.A. Poker Classic.
Then again, these stats are probably irrelevant to his average staker. One doesn't buy a Hollywood actor at a markup of 1.2 to turn a profit. One buys it for the sweat. And he's certainly giving some people that.
Two of his most recent Tweets are just him explaining tournament poker to civilians who follow him for non-poker-related reasons.
"For someone unfamiliar with the gaming scenario - are you permitted to decide you've had enough before you've lost what you came with?" one follower wrote. "Or is it player honor to play until you're broke? I would understand if that's how it works — just curious."
Unsurprisingly, Woods was able to find plenty of people willing to buy. Even with the markup.
Featured image source: Chris Wallace
