Can you really turn pro’ and make a living?
In what must seem like a ‘rags-to-riches’ story, a British poker player has again proved that anyone who is a competent and confident poker player can make the move into the ranks of professional poker players – and make a living out of it.
A poker success story.
40 year old Richard Hemmington who lives on the outskirts of London was, just a few months ago, your regular-guy with a nine-to-five job in IT Sales. When in February he was made redundant as the company he worked for struggled in the recession, Richard took what he knew would be a once in a life-time opportunity; to quit the corporate life and test himself out on the professional poker circuits. Whilst his previous job in IT sales was well paid even he has been surprised by his ability to win, or earn if you prefer, good money as a professional poker player; winning almost $200,000 in just the last three months.
Nearly the winner in Manila.
Neil Acre was the eventaul winner of the 2009 ATP Manila tournament.
Richard has only been playing poker seriously for about 5 years, having started playing online poker his enjoyment from that led him to also try side-games and, with what sounds like typical British reserve, says he “seemed to have a flair for it”. Having done well out in the Philippines for the APT Manila Tournament he has, since February, been working hard to improve his professional game. His next tournament is the Seefeld Poker Masters to be held in Austria this month, June 2009, after beating many other players through the qualifying matches. He will be sponsored by one of the online poker sites for $5000 at this tournament and could win another $200,000 outright in one go; just like Neil Acre the eventual winner in Manila. Should Richard win in Austria then he must surely be setting his sights on one of the summer poker tournaments in either New York or Las Vegas.