German footballer Max Kruse made his annual sojourn to Las Vegas to play the $1,500 2-7 Lowball Draw event at the World Series of Poker today.
Most athletes are drawn to standard No-Limit Hold’em but Kruse has a thing for more obscure games like 2-7, PLO and Razz.
It makes sense since Kruse actually finished third in this same $1,500 2-7 event for $36k back in 2014 after German poker pro George Danzer taught him the rather complex game in just 30 minutes.
Kruse showed an innate ability to play the game and went on to learn a variety of other poker variants.
Unstoppable Love for Poker
Last spring Kruse got in trouble with his Bundesliga squad Wolfsburg for his poker-playing ways when he allegedly won £60,000 playing cards but accidentally left the cash in a taxi.
Max Kruse.
Team executives reprimanded Kruse with a £20,000 fine but that didn’t stop him from playing poker as he once again returned to the WSOP to play in the $10,000 2-7 Draw Championship.
At the time he told PokerListings he didn’t think teams should keep players from getting involved with poker.
“In poker there's a lot of strategy and you learn a lot about people. In games like blackjack and roulette it's just gambling,” he said.
"You have to prepare for a poker game just like you have to prepare for a football match.”
Kruse moved on from Wolfsburg this past year and re-joined his old squad Werder Bremen.
It turned out the move was just what Kruse needed and the German international put up 15 goals in the 2016-17 season.
Interestingly Kruse picked up poker when he was playing for Bremen back when he was 18. The team apparently has no problem with him playing poker and he’s flourished since returning to Bremen.
Manchester United Allegedly Interested in Kruse
Kruse’s breakout year at Breman has drawn interest from some of the biggest teams in the world.
Several newspapers are reporting that Manchester United is looking to sign the German striker after abandoning its pursuit of Atletico Madrid superstar Antoine Griezmann.
United is looking for more strength up front after losing Zlatan Ibrahimovic to injury this year. Ibrahimovic’s future with the club is very much in doubt.
United is not the only Premiership team looking to add Kruse as Everton and West Ham have both expressed interest in the striker.
The Premiership’s summer transfer window officially opens on July 1 but players and teams are able to discuss terms far before that date.
PokerListings asked Kruse for an interview on a break from the $1,500 2-7 event. Kruse cordially declined saying he couldn’t do any interviews right now.
