ARTICLES BY: ALEXANDER KREYMER
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published 820 days ago in
Card Player College Magazine Volume 2, Number 7
Card Player College Magazine Volume 2, Number 7
Alex "Yahtzem" Jacob: Ivy League Rounder
Yale University - If there was a professional poker league with teams, lottery picks, and player drafts, you might hear the following words coming from the commissioner of the league on draft day: "With the first overall pick in the 2006 Poker League Draft, the New York High Rollers take Alex Jacob from Yale University!" The crowd would go wild as Alex hugged his friends, family, and girlfriend on his way to the stage. He would walk to the podium and shake hands with the commissioner (my money is that it would be Mike Sexton), as dozens of flashes lit up the room, trying to get a shot of the new poker face in the league.
Millions of poker fans across the globe would run to their computers, log on to CardPlayer.com, and read the player analysis of this hot poker prospect. They would learn that Jacob has been playing poker since his high school days in southern Florida. The analysis would explain that, although Jacobs didn't start playing seriously until his sophomore year at Yale University, by his senior year he had established himself as a strong player both online and on the circuit. The analysis would highlight his experience in major tournaments, having played almost a dozen in less than a year of eligibility, along with his strong online play at high-stakes cash games and heads-up matches. The analysis would show a bright future for this fresh poker face.
Although the part about the poker player draft isn't true, not yet at least, (hint, hint, Mike Sexton) the rest is certainly the case.
Born in Houston, Alex moved to Florida as a child. He grew up in southern Florida before being accepted into Yale University for his undergraduate studies. There, his interest in poker transformed from a hobby into a well-paying job. Alex went from playing with friends on campus to hitting the online tables for much higher stakes. He began on PokerStars at low-stakes no-limit tables, playing under the nickname Yahtzem. Quickly, he moved to the sit-and-go tournaments and, before long, his original $500 bankroll had reached astronomical proportions. Soon, he was playing at tables for which the buy-ins were more than 10 times the size of his original bankroll. At such high stakes, Alex couldn't find any competition at home games on campus. Looking to take his game offline, but still being underage for the tournament circuit in the United States, Alex turned to the major tournaments in Europe.
While other students were drinking their spring break away in Florida and Cancun, Alex was playing poker across the pond at the PokerStars.com European Poker Tour Grand Final in Monte Carlo. Even with the hefty €10,000 buy-in, Alex didn't rely on any satellites to get himself a seat. After school ended that year, Alex jumped on a plane once again to try his luck in the World Poker Tour Grand Prix de Paris. Although he didn't cash in either of the tournaments, Alex gained valuable poker experience that most college students only wish to have at such a young age.
Last October, Alex finally celebrated his 21st birthday, making him old enough to hit the American tournament circuit. Unlike most college students turning 21, Alex didn't go to online satellites for his entries into tournaments. Just as previously in Europe, he simply paid the $10,000 buy-in directly from his now swelling bankroll. In the following months, Alex traveled from Connecticut to Atlantic City, to the Bahamas, to San Diego, to Las Vegas, and back to Connecticut. During his travels, Alex reached the money in two events including a recent final-table appearance at the World Poker Tour Foxwoods Poker Classic this April.
At the WPT Foxwoods Poker Classic, Alex found himself with a home-field advantage. Not only does he live in Connecticut, but his other finish in the money also came at Foxwoods during a tournament last November. Alex recorded an impressive second-place finish, taking home a monstrous $655,507. This finish at a WPT final table has put Alex in the media spotlight and on the radars of many poker opponents.
Since his finish, Alex has played in the $25,000 buy-in event at the Five-Star World Poker Classic. You can also find him playing high-stakes tables on PokerStars under the nickname Yahtzem.
Millions of poker fans across the globe would run to their computers, log on to CardPlayer.com, and read the player analysis of this hot poker prospect. They would learn that Jacob has been playing poker since his high school days in southern Florida. The analysis would explain that, although Jacobs didn't start playing seriously until his sophomore year at Yale University, by his senior year he had established himself as a strong player both online and on the circuit. The analysis would highlight his experience in major tournaments, having played almost a dozen in less than a year of eligibility, along with his strong online play at high-stakes cash games and heads-up matches. The analysis would show a bright future for this fresh poker face.
Although the part about the poker player draft isn't true, not yet at least, (hint, hint, Mike Sexton) the rest is certainly the case.
Born in Houston, Alex moved to Florida as a child. He grew up in southern Florida before being accepted into Yale University for his undergraduate studies. There, his interest in poker transformed from a hobby into a well-paying job. Alex went from playing with friends on campus to hitting the online tables for much higher stakes. He began on PokerStars at low-stakes no-limit tables, playing under the nickname Yahtzem. Quickly, he moved to the sit-and-go tournaments and, before long, his original $500 bankroll had reached astronomical proportions. Soon, he was playing at tables for which the buy-ins were more than 10 times the size of his original bankroll. At such high stakes, Alex couldn't find any competition at home games on campus. Looking to take his game offline, but still being underage for the tournament circuit in the United States, Alex turned to the major tournaments in Europe.
While other students were drinking their spring break away in Florida and Cancun, Alex was playing poker across the pond at the PokerStars.com European Poker Tour Grand Final in Monte Carlo. Even with the hefty €10,000 buy-in, Alex didn't rely on any satellites to get himself a seat. After school ended that year, Alex jumped on a plane once again to try his luck in the World Poker Tour Grand Prix de Paris. Although he didn't cash in either of the tournaments, Alex gained valuable poker experience that most college students only wish to have at such a young age.
Last October, Alex finally celebrated his 21st birthday, making him old enough to hit the American tournament circuit. Unlike most college students turning 21, Alex didn't go to online satellites for his entries into tournaments. Just as previously in Europe, he simply paid the $10,000 buy-in directly from his now swelling bankroll. In the following months, Alex traveled from Connecticut to Atlantic City, to the Bahamas, to San Diego, to Las Vegas, and back to Connecticut. During his travels, Alex reached the money in two events including a recent final-table appearance at the World Poker Tour Foxwoods Poker Classic this April.
At the WPT Foxwoods Poker Classic, Alex found himself with a home-field advantage. Not only does he live in Connecticut, but his other finish in the money also came at Foxwoods during a tournament last November. Alex recorded an impressive second-place finish, taking home a monstrous $655,507. This finish at a WPT final table has put Alex in the media spotlight and on the radars of many poker opponents.
Since his finish, Alex has played in the $25,000 buy-in event at the Five-Star World Poker Classic. You can also find him playing high-stakes tables on PokerStars under the nickname Yahtzem.
