Poker Room Erupts as Dealer Hits Life-Changing Score at Her Place of Employment
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Mallory Klaus, a dealer and ambassador at Texas Card House Dallas, achieved every poker player’s dream – a life-changing score. The Oklahoman, who now resides in Texas, secured a massive $211,745 cash prize for winning an $800 buy-in tournament at her workplace, one of the top poker rooms in the Lone Star State.
Klaus, who discussed her win with PokerNews, saying it “didn’t seem real,” has been a dealer at TCH Dallas but now runs the livestream and serves as an ambassador. Additionally, she promotes Poker Rx, a poker league in Oklahoma City, and is an ambassador for the RunGood Poker Series (RGPS) and the VP of Marketing and Relations for 3Coin, a brand owned by Randy Sadler, a prominent figure on Hustler Casino Live.
The decision to play in the tournament was fortuitous, as Klaus initially didn’t plan to participate until she noticed a lack of available cash game seats due to the tournament’s popularity. Her victory over 1,943 players in the Title Event at TCH’s Trailblazer Tour earlier this month increased her Hendon Mob earnings from $12,000 to $224,000.
Sadler, who credited Klaus for playing a key role in his business’s success, expressed no surprise at her triumph against such a massive field, stating, “I’ve been trying to get her to do that. She’s the best player at any table.”
While Klaus, who typically plays $1/$2 and $2/$5 cash games, plans to take her son to Disney World and travel to Europe with her dad, she doesn’t intend to pursue major tournaments like the World Series of Poker (WSOP), except for a few small buy-in events. “I was on the right path before the tournament financially,” she said.
However, Klaus has taken a successful shot in the past, risking her entire $5,000 bankroll in a $50/$100 mixed game at TCH to fill a vacant seat. She unintentionally hit and ran less than an hour later, hitting a full house and tripling up before the original player returned, allowing her to leave the game with a profit she considered “a tip.”
Klaus admits playing in that high-stakes game was “irresponsible” but takes great pride in working for and representing Texas Card House, where she primarily plays due to the hourly seat fee structure rather than rake, which is illegal in Texas.
Hitting a six-figure score anywhere is remarkable, but doing so in front of friends and co-workers cheering her on at the final table made it even more special. “It was the perfect scenario, having all my friends and family there cheering me on,” Klaus said. “TCH is like a family.”
While Klaus considers herself “more of a recreational player,” a couple more deep tournament runs might force her to accept the “pro” label.
