View source for Mike Sexton

{{Short description|American poker player and commentator (1947–2020)}}
{{for|the member of the Iowa House of Representatives|Mike Sexton (politician)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox poker player
|name=Mike Sexton
|nickname=The Ambassador of Poker
|image=Mike Sexton 2019.jpg
|caption=Sexton in 2019
|hometown=
|birth_name  = Michael Richard Sexton 
|birth_date  = {{birth date|1947|9|22}}
|birth_place = [[Dayton, Ohio]], U.S.
|death_date = {{death date and age|2020|9|6|1947|9|22}}
|death_place = [[Las Vegas]], [[Nevada]], U.S.

|module1 = {{infobox
|subbox = yes
|labelstyle  = width: 33%
|headerstyle = background-color: #eedd88;
|header2='''[[World Series of Poker]]'''
|label3=[[World Series of Poker bracelet|Bracelet(s)]]
|data3=1
|label4=Final table(s)
|data4=23
|label5=Money<br> finish(es)
|data5=59
|label6 = Highest ITM<br> Main Event<br> finish
|data6 = 12th, [[2000 World Series of Poker|2000]]
}}
 
|module2 = {{infobox
|subbox = yes
|labelstyle  = width: 34%
|headerstyle = background-color: #eedd88;
|header3='''[[World Poker Tour]]'''
|label7 = Title(s)
|data7=1
|label8=Final table(s)
|data8=4
|label9=Money<br> finish(es)
|data9=17
}}
}}
'''Michael Richard Sexton''' (September 22, 1947{{spnd}}September 6, 2020) was an American professional [[poker]] player and commentator. He was inducted into the [[Poker Hall of Fame]] in 2009.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fiorvanti |first=Tim |date=September 7, 2020 |title=Poker commentator Mike Sexton dies at age 72 |url=https://www.espn.com/poker/story/_/id/29831752/commentator-poker-hall-famer-mike-sexton-dies-age-72 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200907213047/https://www.espn.com/poker/story/_/id/29831752/commentator-poker-hall-famer-mike-sexton-dies-age-72 |archive-date=September 7, 2020 |access-date=September 8, 2020 |website=[[ESPN.com]] |language=en}}</ref>

==Early years==
Sexton was a [[artistic gymnastics|gymnast]] and attended [[Ohio State University]], where he earned a degree in public recreation after changing majors from [[business]].<ref name="pokercentral">{{Cite web |date=September 7, 2020 |title=Legendary Poker Icon Mike Sexton Passes Away at 72 |url=https://www.pokercentral.com/articles/legendary-poker-icon-mike-sexton-passes-away-at-72/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200907044916/https://www.pokercentral.com/articles/legendary-poker-icon-mike-sexton-passes-away-at-72/ |archive-date=September 7, 2020 |access-date=September 8, 2020 |website=Poker Central}}</ref>  He joked that he majored in poker because he played very frequently in college.  He also regularly played [[contract bridge]] and taught classes on it in [[North Carolina]].<ref name="pokercentral" />

Sexton joined the [[United States Army|U.S. Army]] as a [[paratrooper]] assigned to the [[U.S. 82nd Airborne Division|82nd Airborne Division]] in 1970.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Seaton |first=Paul |date=February 11, 2019 |title=Before the Game: Mike Sexton the Paratrooper (Part One) |url=https://www.pokernews.com/news/2019/02/before-the-game-mike-sexton-paratrooper-part-one-33177.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200907191049/https://www.pokernews.com/news/2019/02/before-the-game-mike-sexton-paratrooper-part-one-33177.htm |archive-date=September 7, 2020 |access-date=September 8, 2020 |website=PokerNews.com |language=en}}</ref>  The division had just returned from [[Vietnam War|Vietnam]] and Sexton never saw combat.  While he was in the army, he taught ballroom dancing, and one of his clients convinced him to try being a salesman, which he continued to do after his two-year enlistment was up.  After a while, he realized that he could make more money playing poker than being a salesman, so he took up poker in 1977.<ref name="rvwjournal">{{Cite web |date=September 7, 2020 |title=Tributes pour in for poker giant Mike Sexton |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/poker/tributes-pour-in-for-poker-giant-mike-sexton-2113378/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200910143619/https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/poker/tributes-pour-in-for-poker-giant-mike-sexton-2113378/ |archive-date=September 10, 2020 |access-date=September 8, 2020 |website=Las Vegas Review-Journal}}</ref>

In 1985 he moved to [[Nevada]] to pursue poker full-time.<ref name="rvwjournal" /> Sexton was a well-known cohort of poker player [[Stu Ungar]], and was a pallbearer and speaker at Ungar's funeral.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mike Sexton Autobiography Coming Next Year |url=https://www.highstakesdb.com/6410-mike-sexton-autobiography-coming-next-year.aspx |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200910143622/https://www.highstakesdb.com/6410-mike-sexton-autobiography-coming-next-year.aspx |archive-date=September 10, 2020 |access-date=September 8, 2020 |website=HighstakesDB}}</ref>

==Poker player and promoter==
=== World Poker Tour ===
On the [[World Poker Tour]] (WPT), Sexton had seventeen career cashes in WPT tournaments, including four final tables. In November 2016, Sexton won the [[World Poker Tour season 15 results#WPT Montreal|WPT Montreal Main Event]], besting a field of 648 entries to win the US$317,896 first prize, on a buy-in of [[Canadian dollar|CAD$]]3,850 per player. It was his third time reaching a WPT final table and his first WPT victory.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mike Sexton Wins 2016 World Poker Tour Montreal Main Event – Poker News |url=http://www.cardplayer.com/poker-news/21039-mike-sexton-wins-2016-world-poker-tour-montreal-main-event |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170617082600/http://www.cardplayer.com/poker-news/21039-mike-sexton-wins-2016-world-poker-tour-montreal-main-event |archive-date=June 17, 2017 |access-date=June 22, 2017 |website=www.cardplayer.com}}</ref> At the time of his death, his career WPT earnings were $1,011,725, ranking him 233rd in WPT earnings, as well as holding 64th place for 4 WPT final table appearances.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mike Sexton WPT Career Stats |url=http://www.worldpokertour.com/player/mike-sexton/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620124828/https://www.worldpokertour.com/player/mike-sexton/ |archive-date=June 20, 2018 |access-date=September 22, 2020 |website=[[World Poker Tour]]}}</ref>

Sexton also served as the lead commentator on WPT telecasts, working alongside [[Vince Van Patten]] for the program's first fifteen seasons.

=== World Series of Poker ===
Sexton won several tournaments, including one [[World Series of Poker]] [[WSOP bracelet|bracelet]], and almost $5,700,000 in total WSOP tournament winnings.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mike Sexton – Poker index and results of Mike Sexton |url=http://www.rankinghero.com/en/players/107166/mike-sexton/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202235039/http://www.rankinghero.com/en/players/107166/mike-sexton/ |archive-date=December 2, 2013 |access-date=September 22, 2020 |website=RankingHero}}</ref> He won his bracelet in the $1,500 [[seven-card stud]] split event at the 1989 World Series of Poker.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Barnes |first=Jim |date=September 7, 2020 |title=Poker player, commentator Mike Sexton dies at 72 |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/poker/poker-player-commentator-mike-sexton-dies-at-72-2112941/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200910143621/https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/poker/poker-player-commentator-mike-sexton-dies-at-72-2112941/ |archive-date=September 10, 2020 |access-date=September 8, 2020 |website=Las Vegas Review-Journal}}</ref> His 72 cashes at the WSOP account for $2.6 million of his total winnings.<ref name="ptpoker">{{Cite web |last=Klinski |first=Craig |date=September 7, 2020 |title=Poker World Mourns The Loss Of Mike Sexton |url=https://www.parttimepoker.com/mike-sexton-passes-away |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200910143636/https://www.parttimepoker.com/mike-sexton-passes-away |archive-date=September 10, 2020 |access-date=September 8, 2020}}</ref> Sexton finished 10th in a preliminary event at the [[2005 World Series of Poker]] and also in the final 16 of [[Poker Superstars Invitational Tournament|Poker Superstars II]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mike Sexton {{!}} Poker Player Biography |url=http://www.onlinepokernews.org/poker-players/mike-sexton |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160809033705/http://www.onlinepokernews.org/poker-players/mike-sexton |archive-date=August 9, 2016 |access-date=September 8, 2020}}</ref> On June 27, 2006, Sexton won the third annual [[World Series of Poker Tournament of Champions]] event, and along with it the $1,000,000 first prize. In the final hand, his {{cards|A♥|A♣}} defeated [[Daniel Negreanu]]'s {{cards|Q♥|J♥}} on a board of {{cards|10♦|8♦|4♠|A♦|8♣}}.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Sexton |first=Mike |title=Remembering Stuey 1953–1998 |date=September 2006 |work=Poker Player Magazine}}</ref> In July 2012, Sexton finished in 9th place in the "[[Big One for One Drop]]" WSOP event, earning him $1,109,333, the biggest cash of his career.<ref>{{Cite web |title=5 Questions with Mike Sexton: $1 Million Big One for One Drop Charity Event {{!}} World Poker Tour |url=https://www.worldpokertour.com/news/5-questions-with-mike-sexton-1-million-big-one-for-one-drop-charity-event/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200910143646/https://www.worldpokertour.com/news/5-questions-with-mike-sexton-1-million-big-one-for-one-drop-charity-event/ |archive-date=September 10, 2020 |access-date=September 8, 2020}}</ref> During his final World Series of Poker in 2019, Sexton partnered with [[James Holzhauer]], a famed game show contestant and sports gambler making his first World Series of Poker appearance.<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 25, 2019 |title='Jeopardy!' Champ James Holzhauer Finishes Out of Money at World Series of Poker Debut |url=https://nypost.com/2019/06/25/jeopardy-champ-james-holzhauer-finishes-out-of-money-at-world-series-of-poker-debut/ |access-date=June 25, 2019 |work=New York Post |agency=Associated Press}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" border="1"
|-
|+ World Series of Poker bracelets
|-
!Year
!Tournament
!Prize (US$)
|-
|[[1989 World Series of Poker|1989]]
|$1,500 Seven-Card Stud Split  
|$104,400
|}

=== Commentator and promoter ===
A former commentator of the [[World Poker Tour]], alongside [[Vince Van Patten]], he wrote articles for ''[[Card Player Magazine]]'' and the ''Gambling Times''. He founded the now-defunct ''Tournament of Champions of Poker'', which only let tournament winners from the previous year compete.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Caruso III |first=Anthony |date=September 7, 2020 |title=Poker icon Mike Sexton has passed away |url=https://thecapitalsportsreport.com/2020/09/07/poker-icon-mike-sexton-has-passed-away/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200910143639/https://thecapitalsportsreport.com/2020/09/07/poker-icon-mike-sexton-has-passed-away/ |archive-date=September 10, 2020 |access-date=September 8, 2020 |website=The Capital Sports Report |language=en}}</ref>

=== PartyPoker ===
Sexton co-founded and was the chairman for [[PartyGaming|PartyPoker.com]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mike Sexton Leaves World Poker Tour, Accepts Role As Chairman Of partypoker – Poker News |url=https://www.cardplayer.com/poker-news/21663-mike-sexton-leaves-world-poker-tour-accepts-role-as-chairman-of-partypoker |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190131093621/https://www.cardplayer.com/poker-news/21663-mike-sexton-leaves-world-poker-tour-accepts-role-as-chairman-of-partypoker |archive-date=January 31, 2019 |access-date=January 31, 2019 |website=www.cardplayer.com}}</ref> at one time the biggest [[online poker]] site in the United States, despite the company being under a $500K deficit after its first launch in 2002. Four years after launch, the company went public for $9 billion, but Sexton sold out his shares for $15 million a year and a half prior to the public offering. When addressing this, Sexton said that, even though the sale of his shares meant he missed a profit of about $500 million, he did not regret the decision he took at the time.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 8, 2020 |title=Honoring Mike Sexton: Six career milestones that made him an irreplaceable legend |url=http://somuchpoker.com/honoring-mike-sexton-six-career-milestones-that-made-him-an-irreplaceable-legend/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200910143648/http://somuchpoker.com/honoring-mike-sexton-six-career-milestones-that-made-him-an-irreplaceable-legend/ |archive-date=September 10, 2020 |access-date=September 10, 2020 |website=Somuchpoker |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== ''PokerNewsDaily'' ===
{{AI-generated|section=PokerNews|date=September 2025}}
Over the course of his career, Sexton was closely associated with many legendary figures in poker. He expressed admiration for the late [[Stu Ungar]], stating in an interview to ''Poker News Daily''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cypra |first=Dan |date=2008-08-05 |title=Mike Sexton Interview with Poker News Daily |url=https://www.pokernewsdaily.com/mike-sexton-interview-with-poker-news-daily-228/ |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=Poker News Daily |language=en-US}}</ref> that if Ungar were still alive, he would have been "far and away the top superstar in the poker world and the greatest star in the ''World Poker Tour''."

He gave several interviews on the news portal.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Burton |first=Earl |date=2020-09-07 |title=A Tribute to Mike Sexton: Thank YOU for All You've Done |url=https://www.pokernewsdaily.com/a-tribute-to-mike-sexton-thank-you-for-all-youve-done-33932/ |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=Poker News Daily |language=en-US}}</ref>

Sexton's impact on poker extended beyond his achievements as a player and commentator. He was widely regarded as one of the game's most influential figures, helping to shape modern poker through his work with both the WPT and PartyPoker.

=== Style ===
Sexton played a solid overall game; being one of the first to implement preflop steals meaning to raise with a worse hand with the intention of winning the blinds and antes. This means you can win a healthy pot without the risk of losing a large proportion of your stack.{{citation needed|date=April 2024}}

== Charity ==
Sexton donated half of his post-tax winnings from his win in 2006 of the third annual [[World Series of Poker Tournament of Champions]] event, a prize of $1,000,000, to five charities. He pledged to do the same with all future winnings.<ref name=":0" /> In early 2009, Sexton along with Linda Johnson, Jan Fisher and Lisa Tenner, created PokerGives.org, a nonprofit organization that offers poker players an easier way to give to charity.<ref>{{Cite web |title=PokerGives makes donating easy for players – Poker News |work=Pokerlistings |url=http://www.pokerlistings.com/pokergives-makes-donating-easy-for-players-36074 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200910143656/https://www.pokerlistings.com/poker-articles |archive-date=September 10, 2020 |access-date=February 6, 2009}}</ref>

== Honors, awards, distinctions ==
Sexton was inducted into the [[Poker Hall of Fame]] in 2009.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 7, 2016 |title=Life's A Gamble: Interview with Mike Sexton on His Great Poker Life Journey |url=https://www.cardschat.com/news/lifes-a-gamble-exclusive-interview-with-mike-sexton-24319 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200407152726/https://www.cardschat.com/news/lifes-a-gamble-exclusive-interview-with-mike-sexton-24319 |archive-date=April 7, 2020 |access-date=April 7, 2020 |website=CardsChat.com}}</ref> For all of his work promoting poker, Sexton was often known as "the ambassador of poker".<ref name="cnn">{{Cite web |last=Andrew |first=Scottie |date=September 7, 2020 |title=Poker legend Mike Sexton dies at 72 |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/07/us/mike-sexton-death-poker-trnd/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200908001158/https://www.cnn.com/2020/09/07/us/mike-sexton-death-poker-trnd/index.html |archive-date=September 8, 2020 |access-date=September 8, 2020 |website=CNN}}</ref>  On February 15, 2006, Sexton was recognized as the top poker ambassador at the ''Card Player Magazine'' Player of the Year Awards Gala.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Beresford |first=Trilby |date=September 7, 2020 |title=Mike Sexton, World Poker Tour Commentator, Dies at 72 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/mike-sexton-world-poker-tour-commentator-dies-at-72 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200907164938/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/mike-sexton-world-poker-tour-commentator-dies-at-72 |archive-date=September 7, 2020 |access-date=September 8, 2020 |website=Hollywood Reporter}}</ref>

On July 21, 2020, the WPT Champions Cup was renamed to the Mike Sexton WPT Champions Cup.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 21, 2020 |title=World Poker Tour® Announces the WPT® Champions Cup Will Be Named in Honor of Commentator and WPT Champions Club Member Mike Sexton |url=https://www.worldpokertour.com/news/world-poker-tour-announces-the-wpt-champions-cup-will-be-named-in-honor-of-commentator-and-wpt-champions-club-member-mike-sexton/ |access-date=April 20, 2024 |website=World Poker Tour |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Death ==
Sexton died on September 6, 2020, after being diagnosed with prostate cancer.<ref name="cnn" />

==Bibliography==
*''Shuffle Up and Deal: The Ultimate No Limit Texas Hold 'em Guide'' (2005) {{ISBN|0-06-076251-9}}<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sexton |first=Mike |date=2005-03-15 |title=Shuffle Up and Deal: The Ultimate No Limit Texas Hold 'em Guide |publisher=William Morrow Paperbacks |isbn=0060762519 |language=English}}</ref>
*''Life's a Gamble'' (2016) {{ISBN|978-1-909457-56-0}} Published by D&B Poker<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sexton |first=Mike |date=2016-07-07 |title=Life's a Gamble |publisher=D & B Publishing |isbn=978-1909457560 |language=English}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://cardplayerlifestyle.com/interview-poker-hall-famer-mike-sexton/ Mike Sexton Interview]
*[https://www.cardplayer.com/poker-players/3233-mike-sexton Card Player profile]
*[https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=r&n=214 Hendon Mob profile]
*[https://www.pokernews.com/poker-players/mike-sexton/ PokerNews profile]
*[https://www.worldpokertour.com/player/mike-sexton/ WPT profile]
*[https://www.worldpokertour.com/news/mike-sexton-1947-2020/ WPT obituary]
*[https://www.wsop.com/players/profile/?playerid=150 WSOP profile]

{{World Series of Poker Tournament of Champions Winners}}
{{1980s WSOP Bracelet Winners}}
{{Poker Hall of Fame}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sexton, Mike}}
[[Category:1947 births]]
[[Category:2020 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Shelbyville, Indiana]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Indiana]]
[[Category:Writers from Indiana]]
[[Category:American poker players]]
[[Category:World Series of Poker bracelet winners]]
[[Category:World Poker Tour winners]]
[[Category:Poker After Dark tournament winners]]
[[Category:Poker commentators]]
[[Category:American gambling writers]]
[[Category:American male non-fiction writers]]
[[Category:American ballroom dancers]]
[[Category:Ohio State University alumni]]
[[Category:United States Army soldiers]]
[[Category:Deaths from prostate cancer in Nevada]]
[[Category:Poker Hall of Fame inductees]]