Mike Sexton
Mike Sexton | |
---|---|
Nickname(s) | The Ambassador of Poker |
Born | Michael Richard Sexton September 22, 1947 Dayton, Ohio, U.S. |
Died | September 6, 2020 Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | (aged 72)
World Series of Poker | |
Bracelet(s) | 1 |
Final table(s) | 23 |
Money finish(es) | 59 |
Highest ITM Main Event finish | 12th, 2000 |
World Poker Tour | |
Title(s) | 1 |
Final table(s) | 4 |
Money finish(es) | 17 |
Michael Richard Sexton (September 22, 1947 – September 6, 2020) was an American professional poker player and commentator. He was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2009.[1]
Early years
Sexton was a gymnast and attended Ohio State University, where he earned a degree in public recreation after changing majors from business.[2] He joked that he majored in poker because he played very frequently in college. He also regularly played contract bridge and taught classes on it in North Carolina.[2]
Sexton joined the
In 1985 he moved to Nevada to pursue poker full-time.[4] Sexton was a well-known cohort of poker player Stu Ungar, and was a pallbearer and speaker at Ungar's funeral.[5]
Poker player and promoter
World Poker Tour
On the World Poker Tour (WPT), Sexton had seventeen career cashes in WPT tournaments, including four final tables. In November 2016, Sexton won the WPT Montreal Main Event, besting a field of 648 entries to win the US$317,896 first prize, on a buy-in of CAD$3,850 per player. It was his third time reaching a WPT final table and his first WPT victory.[6] At the time of his death, his career WPT earnings were $1,011,725, ranking him 233rd in WPT earnings, as well as holding 64th place for 4 WPT final table appearances.[7]
Sexton also served as the lead commentator on WPT telecasts, working alongside
World Series of Poker
Sexton won several tournaments, including one
Year | Tournament | Prize (US$) |
---|---|---|
1989 | $1,500 Seven-Card Stud Split | $104,400 |
Commentator and promoter
A former commentator of the
PartyPoker
Sexton co-founded and was the chairman for PartyPoker.com,[16] at one time the biggest online poker site in the United States, despite the company being under a $500K deficit after its first launch in 2002. Four years after launch, the company went public for $9 billion, but Sexton sold out his shares for $15 million a year and a half prior to the public offering. When addressing this, Sexton said he did not regret his decision, even though selling when he did cost him an estimated $500 million.[17]
Style
Sexton played a solid overall game; being one of the first to implement preflop steals meaning to raise with a worse hand with the intention of winning the blinds and antes. This means you can win a healthy pot without risking to loose a large proportion of your stack.[citation needed]
Charity
Sexton donated half of his post-tax winnings from his win in 2006 of the third annual World Series of Poker Tournament of Champions event, and along with it the $1,000,000 first prize, to five charities. He pledged to do the same with all future winnings.[12] In early 2009, Sexton along with Linda Johnson, Jan Fisher and Lisa Tenner, created PokerGives.org, a nonprofit organization that offers poker players an easier way to give to charity.[18]
Honors, awards, distinctions
Sexton was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2009.[19] For all of his work promoting poker, Sexton was often known as "the ambassador of poker".[20] On February 15, 2006, Sexton was recognized as the top poker ambassador at the Card Player Magazine Player of the Year Awards Gala.[21]
On July 21, 2020, the WPT Champions Cup was renamed to the Mike Sexton WPT Champions Cup.[22]
Death
Sexton died on September 6, 2020, after being diagnosed with prostate cancer.[20]
Bibliography
- Shuffle Up and Deal: The Ultimate No Limit Texas Hold 'em Guide (2005) ISBN 0-06-076251-9[23]
- Life's a Gamble (2016) ISBN 978-1-909457-56-0 Published by D&B Poker[24]
References
- ^ Fiorvanti, Tim (September 7, 2020). "Poker commentator Mike Sexton dies at age 72". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on September 7, 2020. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
- ^ a b "Legendary Poker Icon Mike Sexton Passes Away at 72". Poker Central. September 7, 2020. Archived from the original on September 7, 2020. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
- ^ Seaton, Paul (February 11, 2019). "Before the Game: Mike Sexton the Paratrooper (Part One)". PokerNews.com. Archived from the original on September 7, 2020. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
- ^ a b "Tributes pour in for poker giant Mike Sexton". Las Vegas Review-Journal. September 7, 2020. Archived from the original on September 10, 2020. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
- ^ "Mike Sexton Autobiography Coming Next Year". HighstakesDB. Archived from the original on September 10, 2020. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
- ^ "Mike Sexton Wins 2016 World Poker Tour Montreal Main Event – Poker News". www.cardplayer.com. Archived from the original on June 17, 2017. Retrieved June 22, 2017.
- ^ "Mike Sexton WPT Career Stats". World Poker Tour. Archived from the original on June 20, 2018. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
- ^ "Mike Sexton – Poker index and results of Mike Sexton". RankingHero. Archived from the original on December 2, 2013. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
- ^ Barnes, Jim (September 7, 2020). "Poker player, commentator Mike Sexton dies at 72". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on September 10, 2020. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
- ^ Klinski, Craig (September 7, 2020). "Poker World Mourns The Loss Of Mike Sexton". Archived from the original on September 10, 2020. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
- ^ "Mike Sexton | Poker Player Biography". Archived from the original on August 9, 2016. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
- ^ a b Sexton, Mike (September 2006). Remembering Stuey 1953–1998.
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ignored (help) - ^ "5 Questions with Mike Sexton: $1 Million Big One for One Drop Charity Event | World Poker Tour". Archived from the original on September 10, 2020. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
- ^ "'Jeopardy!' Champ James Holzhauer Finishes Out of Money at World Series of Poker Debut". New York Post. Associated Press. June 25, 2019. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
- ^ Caruso III, Anthony (September 7, 2020). "Poker icon Mike Sexton has passed away". The Capital Sports Report. Archived from the original on September 10, 2020. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
- ^ "Mike Sexton Leaves World Poker Tour, Accepts Role As Chairman Of partypoker – Poker News". www.cardplayer.com. Archived from the original on January 31, 2019. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
- ^ "Honoring Mike Sexton: Six career milestones that made him an irreplaceable legend". Somuchpoker. September 8, 2020. Archived from the original on September 10, 2020. Retrieved September 10, 2020.
- ^ "PokerGives makes donating easy for players – Poker News". Archived from the original on September 10, 2020. Retrieved February 6, 2009.
- ^ "Life's A Gamble: Interview with Mike Sexton on His Great Poker Life Journey". CardsChat.com. June 7, 2016. Archived from the original on April 7, 2020. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
- ^ a b Andrew, Scottie (September 7, 2020). "Poker legend Mike Sexton dies at 72". CNN. Archived from the original on September 8, 2020. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
- ^ Beresford, Trilby (September 7, 2020). "Mike Sexton, World Poker Tour Commentator, Dies at 72". Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on September 7, 2020. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
- ^ "World Poker Tour® Announces the WPT® Champions Cup Will Be Named in Honor of Commentator and WPT Champions Club Member Mike Sexton". World Poker Tour. July 21, 2020. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
- ^ Sexton, Mike (March 15, 2005). "Shuffle Up and Deal: The Ultimate No Limit Texas Hold 'em Guide". Amazon.com. William Morrow Paperbacks. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
- ^ Sexton, Mike (July 7, 2016). "Life's a Gamble". Amazon.com. D & B Publishing. Retrieved April 20, 2024.