As The Festival Series continues to grow with every stop, players are coming from far and wide to get involved with the action. Whether it is for No Limit Hold'em, or for the excellent and varied choice of Mixed Games, each stop seems to bring in a new nationality with every stop.
This Festival Series in Malta is no different, as I found out when talking to American Tim Dallas, who came with his family to play the Sviten Special. This also goes to show just how popular that game is becoming in Europe, and across the giant pond that is the Atlantic Ocean. Also known as Drawmaha in the States, Sviten is beginning to boom. Without further ado, here is a small conversation with Tim Dallas.
The Festival: What's your story with poker? How did you get into the game initially?
Tim Dallas: I started playing poker in 1964 after watching The Cincinnati Kid. Yeah, and I’ve been playing ever since. When I moved to Seattle, Washington, I found a group of guys, and we started a home game. We've been playing for over 30 years. We host tournaments at home, and about 15 years ago, someone introduced a new variation called Sviten.
And then we started looking for tournaments to play in. Now I host my own home tournaments. Just this past summer, I had 21 guys playing out on my patio. Two years ago, I convinced someone to come with me to Tallinn, and we played in the Kings of Tallinn. Surprisingly, I cashed third! That was nice!
So a couple of years later, I found The Festival here in Malta. My whole family came with me—my son-in-law and I are both playing here. After this, we're heading to Sicily for a couple of weeks before flying back.
The Festival: Was poker something you always wanted your son to get into—professionally or just for fun?
Tim Dallas: Just for fun. We just love playing. A good home game is mostly laughing. Sure, we might win or lose a hundred bucks, but it's really about having a good time.
The Festival: Is that what drew you to The Festival—the atmosphere and the mixed games?
Tim Dallas: Absolutely. Sviten, the mixed games are the fun ones. I don’t really play Hold’em much. I mean, I will, but our home games are always mixed. The mixed games are fun—people are laughing, talking, even shouting. You don’t get that at a Hold’em table.
The Festival: Yeah, I agree. It’s such a contrast. You could split the room in half: one side with a mixed game table full of laughter, and the other with a Hold’em table—everyone wearing headphones and dead silent.
Tim Dallas: Exactly—no talking, no eye contact. "Don’t look at my cards, don’t read my mind."
The Festival: Anything else you want to say about The Festival?
Tim Dallas: I’ll be here Friday and Saturday night playing a couple of events. But really, this is what we came for (Sviten Special).
The Festival: What’s your first impression?
Tim Dallas : It’s great—I like it a lot.
I would like to thank Tim Dallas for taking some time on his break to talk to me about his story, and wish him and his family and friends the best of luck at the tables.
