Robert Williamson III excelled at poker and various other enterprises as a youth, and earned a B.B.A. degree in Finance from Angelo State University in San Angelo, Texas as well as a B.B.A. in Real Estate. He has worked as a restaurateur, a real estate developer, and a consultant.

He recalls running sandwiches and drinks for his father's poker-playing buddies when he was only 5, and starting to play when he was about 10 years old. When it comes to side games, his preference is for triple-draw lowball though he's also enthusiastic about mixed games and $50 - $100 Pot-Limit. As for tournament play, his favorite game is Pot-Limit Omaha. He won the $5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha tournament at the 2002 World Series of Poker as well as the Pot-Limit Omaha tournament at the World Poker Open in 2003.

He has admitted to a preparation ritual for final table play, saying: "Two hours prior to a final table, I develop my schedule, which depends on many factors, such as the type of event it is, my chip position, how well I play that particular event, and so on. I try to customize my strategy depending on those factors."

Robert still has plenty of ambition. He says, "I want to win many more World Series bracelets. I love the World Poker Tour and would be proud to win some of its events. I think it is the best thing that ever happened to poker."

Robert left the business world to concentrate on poker and has no regrets. Indeed, how many people would love to be able to say this: "Now I'm on vacation for about a third or fourth of the year. After I play in a tournament, I might hang out there and relax. I can just lay by the pool for three or four days if I want to."