Sports Stars at the World Series of Poker

The WSOP brings players from all around the world to Las Vegas to participate in the exhilirating experience of battling for amazingly huge prizes and shiny golden bracelets. As they say, the great thing in the WSOP is that anyone can sit down and win the whole thing. Satellite qualifiers with smaller bankrolls are as often seen as millionaire and billionaire entrepreneurs and pro poker players. In such a huge tournament, everyone is equal and everyone can have a lucky day..

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Gerard Piqué

Sports professionals, superstars even consider poker as a great form of entertainment, a great social event. This year around, more athletes attended WSOP than ever. For example, in the WSOP Main Event you could find FC Barcelona's center-back Gerard Piqué, UFC fighter Martin Kampmann, the National Football League’s (NFL) Richard Seymour, NASCAR driver Jason White, Australian cricket legend Shane Warne, and the National Basketball Association’s (NBA) Paul Pierce and Earl Barron, and the list is nowhere near complete.

Even though poker does not fully count as a sport, it is surely a mental contest, which is challenging for athletes who are accustomed to such situations. Strategies, finding the optimum in risktaking all test the player's skills, and make it real hard to achieve victory.

Kim Yuhl poker journalist asked a few athletes about how they see the WSOP.

"I have grown to love the game over the last seven to eight years. It is very competitive and mentally challenging. It helps with my patience, because in poker, you have to have a lot of patience, and that translates to the court where it helps me make the right decisions at the right time." - said Boston Celtics 6-time All-Star Paul Pierce.

White also finds a connection between poker and car racing:

"The tournament is long and keeping your focus is probably the biggest thing you can do to help your chances. Just like you have to be able to see where you’re at on the track, you have to feel where you are at on the poker table. On the track, I’m looking to pass, and at the poker table, I’m looking to steal. You have to measure up your competition and find where the best place to make a move on them is. Racing and poker are two different things, but it definitely relates in some areas," said White.

"You have to stay cool under pressure. One mistake at the poker table and you could be out of the tournament. Same thing in fighting; one mistake and you can get clipped, knocked out, or you can get submitted. You just have to stay cool under pressure." shared his thoughts on the matter Martin Kampmann.

Three-time Super Bowl winner defensive tackle, Seymour mainly sees an opportunity to relax in poker.

"Poker is a fun hobby for me. I am fascinated by the game and I enjoy it. It’s competitive in a different arena, and you have to be disciplined, understand and study your opponents and know your strengths and weaknesses." - said Seymour.

Barron also thinks that the challenge and competition offered by poker is the main reason why the card game bring so many athletes to the tables. As he puts it:

"Nobody that plays a sport wants to lose. While you will win some hands and lose some hands, it’s the competitive nature that makes you want to outlast everyone."

The media concentrates its attention on Piqué's attendance. His table is surrounded by journalists and bystanders in such a quantity that it might just be disturbing for the players. The Spanish footballer already played at some EPT events, even reached ITM, WSOP champion Jonathan Duhamel acknowledged his talent in an interview:

“You can tell he has played the game before. He has some good moves, and he bluffs at the right time. It’s good to have him at the table,” - said Duhamel

Of course, the presence of well-known athletes affects WSOP in a good way, drawing attention to it, thus affecting poker's future as a whole.