Mike Sexton
Born in Selby, Indiana, in September 1947, Mike Sexton is a professional poker player who has been inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame. Apart from his prowess in poker, he regularly provides insightful commentary on the game. Sexton has earned the moniker "The Ambassador of Poker" due to his extensive efforts in promoting poker and related events.
University and military service
Sexton graduated from Ohio State University with a degree in "Public Recreation." Initially, he pursued a business administration program. Throughout his college years, Sexton frequently engaged in poker, leading him to jokingly claim that he should have chosen it as his major. Alongside poker, he also dabbled in Contract Bridge and even taught courses on the game in North Carolina. During his childhood, Sexton displayed a keen interest in gymnastics.
| Land | Professional since | Favorite games | Bracelets | Highest profit | total profits | All-Time Money List (2023) | Global Poker Index (2023) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USA | 1987 | All-rounder | 1 | 1.109.333 $ | 6.596.682 $ | 114 | 401 |
| Hometown: | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States of America |
| Interesting facts: | Hold a degree from Ohio State University, used to be a gymnast, and eventually became a professional poker player. |
| Key moments in poker: | Winner of the $1,500 Seven-Card Stud Split Event at the 1989 WSOP; Winner of the Tournament of Champions at the 2006 World Series of Poker. |
| Number of WSOP bracelets: | One |
| WPT/EPT Winnings: | No |
| Total tournament winnings: | $ 6.596.682 (Stand 2017) |
In 1970, Sexton enlisted in the U.S. Army as a paratrooper. Joining shortly after the 82nd Airborne Division had returned from Vietnam, Sexton never saw active duty. During his time in the army, Sexton also taught social dancing. It was during this phase of his life that one of his students convinced him to pursue a career in sales. Embracing the challenge after his military service, Sexton soon realized that he could make more money as a professional poker player. Thus, in 1977, he embarked on his journey as a professional poker player.
Sexton's Poker Career
At the inception of his poker career, Sexton, burdened with his responsibilities as a basketball coach for the Little League, was unable to participate in the World Series of Poker (WSOP) tournaments. However, in 1987, he relocated to Nevada, taking the plunge into professional poker on a full-time basis.
Sexton secured his WSOP bracelet in 1989, triumphing at the WSOP $1,500 Seven-Card Stud Split event. In 2005, Sexton achieved a commendable 10th place finish in one of the preliminary events, while also showcasing his skills among the top 16 players in Poker Superstars II. In February 2006, Sexton received an accolade at the Year Awards Gala hosted by Card Player Magazine's Player. Later that same year, he emerged as the champion at the Tournament of Champions Event, a prestigious competition held annually as part of the World Series of Poker, earning him a remarkable $1,000,000 in prize money. Demonstrating his generous spirit, Sexton decided to distribute half of his post-tax earnings to five charitable organizations, committing to continue this philanthropic approach with his winnings. In 2010, Sexton continued to shine, securing victory in several tournaments, including another WSOP bracelet. With a total of 46 WSOP cashes, Sexton accrued a noteworthy sum of $910,792 in tournament earnings.
Career at PartyPoker and as an author.
Sexton, the host of the World Poker Tour and spokesperson for PartyPoker.com's online poker room, faces restrictions due to his affiliations, preventing him from participating in certain poker tournaments. Additionally, Sexton contributes articles to renowned publications like Gambling Times and Card Player Magazine. Notably, he was the founder of the Tournament of Champions of Poker, which is no longer active today. In 2009, Sexton played a key role in establishing PokerGives.org, a non-profit organization that facilitates charitable donations for poker players, making it more convenient to contribute to noble causes.
