Poker Player - John Kalmar
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At the World Series of Poker tournament held in June-July 2007, a quiet unassuming man played his way steadily through to the final table of the big event. John Kalmar, thirty-four years old and a professional poker player placed fifth in the WSOP Main Event.
Not only did he beat 6,358 professional poker players, and amateurs but also celebrities such as Matt Damon, Ben Affleck and Martin Sheen. Determined to carry on the native of Chorley, Lancashire pushed his way to the last table of the final event.
Unfortunately, he was busted out by Raymond Rahme of South Africa. In the 60th hand of the final, Kalmar couldn’t improve since Rahme’s pocket Jack held firm. He admitted that he couldn’t be happier with his earnings even if he didn’t achieve his dream. Yet.
Kalmar’s win came behind several days complaining that he was out of luck and though he should give the game up. Fortunately he didn’t have the money necessary to take a flight back to England directly. He stayed and finished thee course, raking in prize money to the tune of $1, 255,069. That kind of money is certain to salve over the wounds that life hands you.
Playing No Limit Texas Hold’em restored Kalmar’s faith in himself and his family. Even though he didn’t win, he was able to pull himself out of the doldrums over previous losses.
When he’s not playing in tournaments all across the world, he takes the time to teach Norman Pace, former TV comedian, and his family how to play poker. After his big win, he plans on taking it easy and enjoying some of the benefits of his hard work. With any luck, he says, there will be enough money after taxes to pay off his mortgages, his mother’s mortgage and pay the phone bill. He should be able to do that and afford a good fish and chips dinner!
Kalmar plans to attend more tournaments, especially the World Series of Poker Europe later this year. Like most of the other players, Kalmar plans to take some time off and visit family and friends.
Friends and family of poker players like Kalmar can watch World Series of Championship Poker no matter where they live. For example in 2000 and 2001, the broadcast of hosted by The Discovery Channel. The hour-long series provided an over view as opposed to broadcasting an actual live event with play-by-play analysis. In 2002, ESPN resumed coverage. The broadcast featured final table player’s interview. The final table broadcast was expanded to two or more one-hour episodes. This wasn’t completely satisfactory, but still better than what was offered before.
ESPN's coverage in 2002 would be typical of their coverage in the 1990s (recorded in video, little or no post-production commentary or player profiles, no card cams). However, the final table broadcast was expanded over two one-hour episodes. In 2003 things got better when ESP included coverage of the entire tournament. They offered a “featured table” where the viewer could see the player’s hole cards and watch as they implemented their strategy. It was due to this coverage that the popularity of Texas Hold’em Poker became so popular. The ‘main event’ is held every year and has become almost a baby sitter for those who are sill very much interested in WSOP.
The next time Kalmar plays poker and ESPN covers the tournament, chance are very good that ESPN will provide the entre final table via a pay for view airing. The redheaded, beefy looking man might be thrilled to be able to show his mother just how hard he worked to pay off her mortgage.
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