Last week, Adam Kagin played in the world series of poker, No limit Hold'Em Shootout with a $2000 Buy-in. There were 600 people who started in the tournament and Kagin finished ninth. He was mildly disappointed with the result, however he won $10,000 needed for the main event which begins Friday and finishes August 10, 2006.
Playing in the World Series of poker is extremely impressive. The game is getting more and more popular, and more places around the world are having these large poker tournaments.
Just 6 months ago, 28 year old Adam Kagin was living in Oakland working for a financial services firm. Kagin's luck was about to change as he embarked on becoming a professional poker player.
"I never thought I could (turn professional) until a friend of mine suggested that I consider trying to do it full time," said Kagin, who recently moved from Oakland to outside Las Vegas and will play in the Main Event of the World Series of Poker there this week.
Kagin wants to pursue poker and quit financial services. Even though he'll be giving up his salary and financial security, he feels he's made the right decision. "I've made more money in a few months than I've ever made in a calendar year. I started off really, really well and in one month I grossed over $120,000. If you Google my name now, all this poker stuff comes up. It's been great."
"I did a spreadsheet and found out how much I could be making playing professionally. In the worst-case scenario, I would still be making slightly more money, have more free time, and not have a boss to answer to," he said
Kagin plays tight and aggressive, has mastered his poker face and stays away from alcohol at the tables.
10/03/2006, Tuesday
Sherry Barlow