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Discussion Topic: 2002 Madeira State Champion wins $800,000
Dan Ransick added to this discussion on January 15, 2008
This is pretty cool. He was on the local sports talk show last night as well. He was a state champion in 2002 at 130 lbs in DIII.
http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008801130383
MADEIRA - A 2002 Madeira High School graduate took home $800,000 and a third-place finish in the recent Poker Stars Caribbean Adventure tournament.
Kris Kuykendall, a 25-year-old Madeira resident, won his $8,000 buy-in for the Texas Hold 'em tournament after qualifying during an online tournament he had paid $215 to enter, he said.
He faced off against some of the world's top players at the Atlantis Resort & Casino in the Bahamas during the tournament, which ended Thursday as part of the European Poker Tour.
A University of Cincinnati alum, Kuykendall began playing poker online in college while working toward a degree in business.
After graduating, "I decided to play full time for a year before I started shooting out my resume," he said.
The five-day tournament lured nearly 11,000 professional poker players and was Kuykendall's first major, live tournament.
"I was a little excited because I knew the money that was at stake," he said.
"I never imagined I would be one of those guys playing on television, especially at a big payout game like this at my age."
The tournament winner, Bertrand "Elky" Grospellier, of France, walked away with $2 million.
A tournament highlight for Kuykendall was landing a major chip gain against well-known U.S. poker pro David Pham, who finished fourth with $600,000.
"In 2007 he was the best live tournament poker player, and I had him at my table two days in a row," Kuykendall said.
"I definitely learned a lot from him, and I have to be honest, I was a little intimidated playing against him."
Although he was knocked out by a lowly ace-high hand, Kuykendall said his biggest chip loss came a few hands earlier when his opponent's pocket kings beat out his ace-queen suited.
"In a poker tournament, you have to have a lot of luck and a lot of skill combined," he said.
"I definitely think I'll keep playing and trying to qualify for more tournaments."
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Discussion Topic: 2002 Madeira State Champion wins $800,000
Scott Shaw added to this discussion on January 15, 2008
It had to be the cool confidence that he learned on the mat that helped him finish that high against some of the best. <thumbsup>
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Discussion Topic: 2002 Madeira State Champion wins $800,000
Josh Lowe added to this discussion on January 15, 2008
Still the only state champion for Cincinnati. Madeira HS - upset Billy Young 3-2 for that title.
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Discussion Topic: 2002 Madeira State Champion wins $800,000
Dan Ransick added to this discussion on January 16, 2008
Kuykendall could have company if no one is at 140 and Cloran wins the title there. Winning 800k is just something else.
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