Online Poker Sites
Poker Players
Poker Games
My Journal
Poker Tips
How to Play Poker Basics
Poker Hands
Poker Terms
Poker Tells
Free Poker Games Online
How to Play Texas Holdem Rules
Poker Tournaments
World Poker Tour
WSOP
Poker Stats
PokerTracker
Sharkscope
Calculatem
ThePokerDb
Official Poker Rankings
Site Map |
 Mike
Sexton has been involved in the poker industry for more than twenty years. Before he became a professional player, Mike
attended Ohio State University on a gymnastics scholarship, receiving his degree in Public Recreation. After graduating, he
joined the Army in 1970 (serving as a paratrooper stationed with the 82nd Airborne Division at Ft. Bragg, NC). When he left
the service, he stayed in North Carolina, got married, and worked "real" jobs for four years (as a military sales rep and as
a ballroom dance teacher). At that time he began playing in home games and in late 1977 decided to quit his job and try
playing poker for a living, which he did for over twenty years. He moved to Las Vegas in 1985. His advice to anyone considering
playing poker for a living: "You better LOVE the game. I don't mean 'like' to play, I mean 'love' to play."
More recently Mike gained celebrity status by co-hosting the World Poker Tour with
Vince Van Patten on the Travel Channel. He
has written for Cardplayer Magazine and Gambling Times, and has served as a host and consultant for
Party Poker.
If all this wasn't enough, Mike is known for being the founder of the Tournament of Champions of Poker. This unique event was held
once a year, where any player that won a tournament during the previous year could compete. This field of champion players produced
a "best of the best" (and a pretty hefty prize pool). Unfortunately, this terrific event only lasted three years.
David Chui, Spencer Sun and Brian Saltus were the three winners.
The attention he receives from announcing the World Poker Tour must be rewarding, but he is not permitted to participate in
any of the events. As a player, since these events can be so exciting, I thought this might be disappointing. He told me he
is allowed to play in WPT satellites that give the $10,000 cash, but he cannot win a seat. But Mike is so busy that he
rarely plays nowadays. He played for close to twenty-five years so he is okay with it.
I wondered if the insider knowledge he has helps him when he does play. (We only get to see the edited hands, he gets to see
all of them). He said, "Yes. I definitely feel I'm a better player now by watching all the great players who play on the
World Poker Tour. Ironically, even though I feel I've become a better player, I don't get to play much any more as I am not
allowed to play in the WPT events." I asked whether there are certain players he enjoys watching. He said
"Gus Hansen,
Phil Ivey,
Layne Flack,
Howard Lederer and
Phil Hellmuth Jr. are all terrific, sensational poker players.
Erick Lindgren is another player to watch."
I did not think Mike would give me an answer to the last question I asked: What is it like to work with Vince Van Patten. He
said it was a pleasure to work with Vince. He believes they compliment each other well. The producers ask them not to go
into too much depth about strategy because it might make it difficult for the average person to watch. They don't want to
get too detailed into pot odds because they have to appeal to the masses. They have to get the guy in Kansas to watch and
Vince helps with that. Mike gives the audience enough to satisfy a player that might know a little more. He said he doesn't
want to criticize a player too badly during the show because their family might be watching, but he does want to point it
out if they make a bonehead play. He is certainly qualified to do so since he holds a World Series of Poker bracelet in
Seven Card Stud High Low and has tournament winnings in excess of 3 million dollars.
Mike's other poker accomplishments include winning the 2000 European Finals of Poker, the inaugural Foxwoods World Poker
Finals $10,000 No Limit championship in 1992, the $5000 Four Queens Summer Classic No Limit championship in 1996, which he
successfully defended in 1997, as well as winning the €5000 Heads-Up Championship in Paris in July 2003. In 2006, in a what
comes around goes around fashion, Sexton won the World Series of Poker Tournament of Champions and its $1,000,000 first prize.
Mike wrote the book, Shuffle Up and Deal.
|
