Jon “Skalie” Kalmar was the last British player remaining in the 2007 World Series of Poker Main Event when it got down to the final table. From Chorley, Lancashire in the U.K., Kalmar had a successful online poker career for two years before heading into the event.

He previously worked full time in an IT job and as a consultant, but quit to have more time to play poker. His new career, in his own words, is “poker geek.”

In 2005, Kalmar headed to the World Series of Poker and went up against thousands to play in the Main Event. Having only cashed in two small live events in 2004 and 2005 (he won the latter), his 82nd place finish in the Main Event was respectable, especially considering the 5,619-person playing field.

But the $91,950 payday wasn’t the big score he was looking for. He was looking to win the "Big One” that would set him and his family up for life.

He continued to see success in 2005, with a 10th-place finish in the European Poker Tour Irish Winter Festival of Poker, pulling in a €11,900 payday.

In 2006, he returned to the WSOP and made a small cash in the $2,000 No-Limit Hold’em event. Since then he’s continued to cash in smaller events as well as maintained a thriving online poker career.

Known for his lack of fear at the poker table and his disregard for money, that may have been just what it took to do well in the 2007 Main Event. It certainly did hurt the Brit any as he made it all the way to the final table.

Unfortunately he went out in fifth place, but he didn’t walk away empty-handed. Kalmar joined the World Series of Poker millionaires club with his $1.2 million cash.

It was a certainly a big cash and could've be the “Big One” he was looking for, but ultimately Kalmar is still without that win. Perhaps we’ll see more of him now that he’s got a taste for glory and those coveted WSOP gold bracelets.

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