Chris Merrill Earns Second WPT Rolling Thunder Entry Via LearnWPT

By Sean Chaffin

Fans of sleight of hand and big magic performances may recognize some of Chris Merrill’s work. He’s the man behind the CW network’s Masters of Illusion specials television – not on stage with disappearing tigers or a levitating woman, but behind the scenes directing the entire show.

Merrill, 49, works as an editor and director for a small video production company in Burbank, California. He’s hoping to perform some of his own card tricks this weekend in the WPT Rolling Thunder – just no cards up his sleeves. His company produces several syndicated shows and travel programming. Directing the magician show has shattered some of the allure of magic, but he’s found his interest in the subject returning after working on the show for so long.

“Initially, once you get immersed in it, you burn out on it,” he says. “Now I’ve come back around to it and become a fan again.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7SJu4mHqjY&feature=youtu.be

A longtime recreational poker player, Merrill is now playing his second Rolling Thunder event. Both entries came after winning freeroll qualifiers at LearnWPT seminars. He won his first WPT entry in September 2017 at Borgata and then took another two weeks ago.

LearnWPT is the tour’s training arm and helps players improve their game. The site recently launched a new GTO (game theory optimization) Trainer and is working to expand and promote that teaching tool. Merrill has more than $22,000 in live tournament winnings, which includes a min-cash at the $10,000 World Series of Poker Main Event. 

Married with a 15-year-old daughter, much of Merrill’s poker is played at his local Moose Lodge. The group hosts poker tournaments to help fund some of its charitable endeavors and Merrill plays two or three times a month. While he may not be a poker professional, Merrill sees LearnWPT as a way to work on his game – part of a larger process of growing his knowledge and skill base.

“I get so much out of the class,” he says. “It’s my hobby and I really enjoy it. To be part of that hobby is learning and studying the game. I do that just for pleasure. I’m basically paying [LearnWPT] for that, for my own enjoyment. Getting better means you play better, and that’s always more fun.”

The Moose Lodge offers lower-stakes tournaments and he enjoys the friendship and camaraderie. He also credits LearnWPT with helping him to cash pretty often in them. Merrill has victories in the lodge’s tournament of champions and also won its annual $1,000 overlay event.

While his first WPT Rolling Thunder event didn’t turn out exactly as he hoped, Merrill is hoping for some better luck this time around. He busted on Day 1 in that first one when his Ace-King ran up against pocket Kings. He’s keeping his goals modest as he battles it out in the Thunder Valley poker room.

“The goal for sure is Day 2,” he said at the first break in the action. “Right now my goal is going to make it to the next break after this one. I was down to half my starting stack, but I built it back up – so I feel good.”

Sean Chaffin is a freelance writer in Crandall, Texas, and his work appears in numerous websites and publications. Follow him on Twitter @PokerTraditions.