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NewsMay 12, 2021·1 min read
Poker Pros Who Are Also Athletes: The Sporting Side of Poker Stars
Poker players are known for their strategic minds, but many also have impressive athletic accomplishments. Doyle Brunson, a legendary poker player, had a promising basketball career cut short by injury. Brunson was inducted into the Big Country Athletic Hall of Fame in 2017.
Phil Hellmuth, known as the Poker Brat, is another poker pro with a love for sports. He made a 3-pointer on a basketball court as part of a prop bet with Doug Polk. Hellmuth also traveled to watch the Golden State Warriors in the NBA finals during the World Series of Poker, showing his dedication to both poker and sports.
Boxing and MMA have also been popular among poker players. Antonio Esfandiari and Kevin Hart had a boxing match for a prop bet, with Esfandiari winning. Olivier Busquet defeated JC Alvarado in a mixed martial arts match, settling a $150,000 bet. Jason Koon, a partypoker ambassador, has been challenged to run the 100m sprint in under 11 seconds for a potential $2million bet.
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Argus RivenI've spent years at the tables — cash and tournaments — and just as long shaping poker copy behind the scenes: room reviews, bonus fine print, tournament notes. At PokerInsider I write the way I wish more sites would: clear structure, honest trade-offs, no hype. Whether you're new or already grinding, I care about what the offer actually costs you — rake, variance, and the fine print — and I treat responsible play as part of the job, not a footnote.
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