About Mike Sexton

It is no exaggeration to say that Mike Sexton is one of poker's finest ambassadors to the world. For years, he dreamt corporate endorsements and sponsorships of poker tournaments could work as a means of introducing poker into the mainstream, a hobby to be enjoyed by everybody. He discussed his ideas with anybody who would listen, and the success of the World Poker Tour can largely be chalked up to his credit.

Mike is known as a hard-working ideas man with a passion for what he does. As chief commentator on the televised World Poker Tour series, he has become "the face of poker" to the greater public. He seems to posses an ingrained talent for on-air commentary; with no prior broadcasting experience, he has distinguished himself by being able to discuss and explain poker in a manner that non-players understand and that pros can appreciate and learn from. He is also famous for having coined an oft-repeated phrase regarding No-Limit Hold'em: "It takes five minutes to learn but a lifetime to master."

Mike learned poker in the school of hard knocks. As a 12 year old newspaper delivery boy in his native Dayton, Ohio, he would regularly lose his week's pay to no less a figure than Danny Robison.

In the late 1980's, he got serious about tournament play; witness his gold bracelet from the 1989 World Series of Poker. He says: "It was Eight-or-Better Stud, which was the game I was playing everyday for a living at the time. I sincerely felt I played perfect poker that day, which made my victory that much more satisfying. To this day, it was the best tournament I have ever played." After that victory, Mike went on to win five major No-Limit Hold'em championship events.

If you see or hear Mike claim that he is solely involved in the promotional and broadcasting sides of poker these days, take those claims with a grain of salt. As recently as January, 2005, he placed first in a No-Limit Speed Poker event in Melbourne, Australia, walking away with $93,293.

Trivia

• Attended Ohio State on a gymnastics scholarship
• Former ballroom dance teacher
• TV commentator for the World Poker Tour
• Host and consultant for PartyPoker.com
• Author of the poker book Shuffle Up and Deal