It's fair to say Ylon Schwartz is a gamer. Chess, darts, pool, golf, backgammon, poker - he just loves to compete. And he's spent most of his life doing just that.

It all started in the 1980s when, at the tender young age of 13 (yes, 13), Ylon made his way to the legendary chess games run out of Manhattan's Washington Square Park. He began hustling at the chess board, embarking on what would become a career as a professional chess player.

Despite a natural ability and a passion for the game, however, the goings were tough for young Ylon (pronounced EE-lon). It was nearly impossible to earn a steady income as a chess hustler in those days - and to live above the poverty line. So, after 12 years at the board, Ylon decided to seek out a more profitable profession.

Encouraged by a local gambler named Fat Nick, Ylon began exploring other games. In fact, it was at Fat Nick's backgammon club where Ylon first tried his hand at poker, initially competing in small freezeout tournaments and then dominating them.

Skeptical about making a career out of gambling, he couldn't deny his own talents or the monetary reward poker represented. He soon took his game to the casinos of the Eastern seaboard, including Foxwoods in Connecticut and the meccas of Atlantic City.

As the years wore on Ylon notched cashes in high-profile live and online tournaments. His poker resume includes a dozen WSOP finishes - including his impressive fourth-place finish in the 2008 Main Event - as well as multiple WSOP Circuit wins.

His bankroll has been further boosted by in-the-money finishes in the WPT, Borgata Poker Open, United States Poker Championships, World Poker Finals, Trump Classic, Bellagio Poker Open and PokerStars Caribbean Adventure. And that's just live play.

Online he is known for his prolific MTT results and for running deep in prestigious events like the Sunday Million and the Sunday Second Chance.

Away from the tables, Ylon can be found chilling in his home borough of Brooklyn. In his downtime he enjoys practicing yoga and meditation, swimming, traveling and generally keeping a low profile. Future plans include poker and possible retirement in Latin America, which would involve hammocks, tequila and plenty of sun.

And after 25 years of straight gambling, who can blame him? Everyone needs to retire sometime, and you might as well go out at the top of your game.

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