The Poker Boom of 2003: How Chris Moneymaker Sparked a Global Craze

The author became a fan of the 2003 WSOP tournament on ESPN, which featured Chris Moneymaker as a central figure. Chris Moneymaker, a 27-year-old accountant from Tennessee, qualified for the WSOP main event through an online satellite for $86.

The author and his friends started playing poker in Longmeadow, Massachusetts, with cheap cash games that evolved into tournaments. The author began playing poker on PokerStars with real money, depositing $200 via a postal transfer. The author won approximately $30,000 over the next year and a half, primarily playing limit hold'em.

The author's academic performance declined due to his focus on poker, leading to a drop in his GPA. The author's father took him to visit local colleges, including Westfield State, where the author expressed his disinterest.