Learn more about poker commentator Mike Sexton (Poker Hall of Fame member 2009)
Mike Sexton, known as the Ambassador of Poker, was a player, commentator, and key figure in the popularization of modern poker, serving as the voice of many major events and helping shape today’s global poker community. In this article, we will learn more about this outstanding commentator and Hall of Fame member:
Michael Richard Sexton was born on September 22, 1947, in Shelbyville, Indiana. From a young age, he showed interest in sports and intellectual competition. He was a gymnast and attended Ohio State University, where he initially studied business but later graduated with a degree in public recreation. During his college years, he began playing poker frequently, joking that it was his true major. He also played bridge and taught classes in North Carolina.
After graduating, Sexton joined the U.S. Army as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division in 1970. Although he never saw combat, this experience gave him discipline and resilience. During his service, he taught ballroom dancing, and one of his clients convinced him to try his hand at sales. However, he soon discovered he could earn more money playing poker than selling, so in 1977 he decided to pursue the game professionally.
Beginnings in professional poker
In 1985, Mike moved to Nevada to pursue poker full-time. There, he became a close friend of Stu Ungar, one of the most legendary players, and was a pallbearer at his funeral. Sexton began to stand out in World Series of Poker (WSOP) tournaments, where he won his only bracelet in 1989 in the $1,500 Seven Card Stud Split event.
Throughout his career, he accumulated 72 WSOP cashes, representing more than $2.6 million of his total winnings. In 2006, he won the WSOP Tournament of Champions, defeating Daniel Negreanu in the final heads-up and taking home $1 million, half of which he donated to charity.
The voice of the World Poker Tour
In 2002, with the birth of the World Poker Tour (WPT), Sexton became the lead commentator alongside Vince Van Patten. His clear, didactic, and passionate style transformed him into the voice of televised poker. For 15 seasons, from the first episode in 2002, his calm voice, deep knowledge, and genuine enthusiasm became the soundtrack of televised poker.
Together with his partner Vince Van Patten, Sexton not only commented on the hands; he educated, narrated dramas, and humanized the players, making a complex game accessible to millions of new viewers. His work was so defining that he himself attributed the 2003 “Poker Boom” mainly to the WPT, stating that it was this show that “changed the world of poker forever,” bringing the game to millions of viewers and contributing to the explosion of poker in the 2000s.
His commitment to the WPT was so great that he initially accepted the role on the condition that he not play its tournaments to maintain objectivity. This made his victory in the WPT Montreal Main Event in 2016—a long-awaited title he won at age 68—a moment of pure poetry and celebration for the entire community.
Recognitions and legacy
In 2009, Mike Sexton was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame, becoming its 38th member. He was the only one chosen that year, receiving more than 75% of the votes and the support of prominent figures in the game. His inclusion was celebrated as recognition of his role as a player, commentator, and ambassador of poker.
His induction during the break of the 2009 WSOP final table was an emotional moment, with a 30-second standing ovation and praise from legends like Doyle Brunson. The Hall of Fame criteria not only value playing against the best competition but also contributing to the growth of the game with positive and lasting results. Sexton embodied both.
Sexton’s vision for poker’s growth also had a monumental impact in the digital world. He was the co-founder and the first president of PartyPoker.com, one of the pioneering online poker rooms. He not only lent his name but also brilliant ideas, such as the “PartyPoker Million,” a tournament with accessible satellites and a million-dollar prize that democratized high-level tournaments and was televised, attracting a massive audience. He himself came up with the site’s name, seeking something simple, recognizable, fun, and easy to remember. Although he later sold his shares, potentially losing hundreds of millions, he never showed regret, demonstrating that for him the game was always more than money.
Philanthropy and personal life
Beyond the tables, Sexton was known for his generosity. He donated large sums to charitable causes. That generosity defined his character. After winning $1 million in the 2006 WSOP Tournament of Champions (defeating Daniel Negreanu in an epic duel), he donated half of his winnings to five different charities. This act was not isolated. In 2009, along with other industry figures, he founded PokerGives.org, a nonprofit organization that makes it easier for the poker community to donate to noble causes. His philanthropy earned him a Patriot Award from the Paralyzed Veterans of America in 2008.
In his personal life, he married and became a father. He always maintained a balance between his career and his family, showing that success in poker could go hand in hand with solid values.
Passing and tribute
After a brave battle with prostate cancer, Mike Sexton passed away peacefully at his home in Las Vegas on September 6, 2020, at the age of 72. His death had a profound impact on the poker community, which remembered him as a pioneer, teacher, and friend. Players around the world paid tribute to his legacy, highlighting his role in popularizing the game and his contribution to the industry.
The poker world lost its greatest ambassador, but his legacy lives on. The WPT honored his memory by renaming its most prized trophy the “Mike Sexton WPT Champions Cup.” His two books, Shuffle Up and Deal and his autobiography Life’s a Gamble, preserve his stories and philosophy. He was much more than a commentator: he was a player, ambassador, and pioneer who left an indelible mark. His induction into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2009 was the well-deserved recognition of a life dedicated to the game and its community. Today, his legacy lives on in every broadcast, tournament, and player inspired by his story.
What do you think about this topic? Would you like to learn more about Mike Sexton’s life?
If you want to find the best room to play online poker, you can contact us by visiting the following link.
Left image from World Poker Tour via Wikimedia.com under Creative Commons license. Right image from yourpokerdream.com
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Learn more about poker commentator Mike Sexton (Poker Hall of Fame member 2009)
Mike Sexton, known as the Ambassador of Poker, was a player, commentator, and key figure in the popularization of modern poker, serving as the voice of many major events and helping shape today’s global poker community. In this article, we will learn more about this outstanding commentator and Hall of Fame member:
Table of Contents
Early years and academic background
Michael Richard Sexton was born on September 22, 1947, in Shelbyville, Indiana. From a young age, he showed interest in sports and intellectual competition. He was a gymnast and attended Ohio State University, where he initially studied business but later graduated with a degree in public recreation. During his college years, he began playing poker frequently, joking that it was his true major. He also played bridge and taught classes in North Carolina.
After graduating, Sexton joined the U.S. Army as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division in 1970. Although he never saw combat, this experience gave him discipline and resilience. During his service, he taught ballroom dancing, and one of his clients convinced him to try his hand at sales. However, he soon discovered he could earn more money playing poker than selling, so in 1977 he decided to pursue the game professionally.
Beginnings in professional poker
In 1985, Mike moved to Nevada to pursue poker full-time. There, he became a close friend of Stu Ungar, one of the most legendary players, and was a pallbearer at his funeral. Sexton began to stand out in World Series of Poker (WSOP) tournaments, where he won his only bracelet in 1989 in the $1,500 Seven Card Stud Split event.
Throughout his career, he accumulated 72 WSOP cashes, representing more than $2.6 million of his total winnings. In 2006, he won the WSOP Tournament of Champions, defeating Daniel Negreanu in the final heads-up and taking home $1 million, half of which he donated to charity.
The voice of the World Poker Tour
In 2002, with the birth of the World Poker Tour (WPT), Sexton became the lead commentator alongside Vince Van Patten. His clear, didactic, and passionate style transformed him into the voice of televised poker. For 15 seasons, from the first episode in 2002, his calm voice, deep knowledge, and genuine enthusiasm became the soundtrack of televised poker.
Together with his partner Vince Van Patten, Sexton not only commented on the hands; he educated, narrated dramas, and humanized the players, making a complex game accessible to millions of new viewers. His work was so defining that he himself attributed the 2003 “Poker Boom” mainly to the WPT, stating that it was this show that “changed the world of poker forever,” bringing the game to millions of viewers and contributing to the explosion of poker in the 2000s.
His commitment to the WPT was so great that he initially accepted the role on the condition that he not play its tournaments to maintain objectivity. This made his victory in the WPT Montreal Main Event in 2016—a long-awaited title he won at age 68—a moment of pure poetry and celebration for the entire community.
Recognitions and legacy
In 2009, Mike Sexton was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame, becoming its 38th member. He was the only one chosen that year, receiving more than 75% of the votes and the support of prominent figures in the game. His inclusion was celebrated as recognition of his role as a player, commentator, and ambassador of poker.
His induction during the break of the 2009 WSOP final table was an emotional moment, with a 30-second standing ovation and praise from legends like Doyle Brunson. The Hall of Fame criteria not only value playing against the best competition but also contributing to the growth of the game with positive and lasting results. Sexton embodied both.
Sexton’s vision for poker’s growth also had a monumental impact in the digital world. He was the co-founder and the first president of PartyPoker.com, one of the pioneering online poker rooms. He not only lent his name but also brilliant ideas, such as the “PartyPoker Million,” a tournament with accessible satellites and a million-dollar prize that democratized high-level tournaments and was televised, attracting a massive audience. He himself came up with the site’s name, seeking something simple, recognizable, fun, and easy to remember. Although he later sold his shares, potentially losing hundreds of millions, he never showed regret, demonstrating that for him the game was always more than money.
Philanthropy and personal life
Beyond the tables, Sexton was known for his generosity. He donated large sums to charitable causes. That generosity defined his character. After winning $1 million in the 2006 WSOP Tournament of Champions (defeating Daniel Negreanu in an epic duel), he donated half of his winnings to five different charities. This act was not isolated. In 2009, along with other industry figures, he founded PokerGives.org, a nonprofit organization that makes it easier for the poker community to donate to noble causes. His philanthropy earned him a Patriot Award from the Paralyzed Veterans of America in 2008.
In his personal life, he married and became a father. He always maintained a balance between his career and his family, showing that success in poker could go hand in hand with solid values.
Passing and tribute
After a brave battle with prostate cancer, Mike Sexton passed away peacefully at his home in Las Vegas on September 6, 2020, at the age of 72. His death had a profound impact on the poker community, which remembered him as a pioneer, teacher, and friend. Players around the world paid tribute to his legacy, highlighting his role in popularizing the game and his contribution to the industry.
The poker world lost its greatest ambassador, but his legacy lives on. The WPT honored his memory by renaming its most prized trophy the “Mike Sexton WPT Champions Cup.” His two books, Shuffle Up and Deal and his autobiography Life’s a Gamble, preserve his stories and philosophy. He was much more than a commentator: he was a player, ambassador, and pioneer who left an indelible mark. His induction into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2009 was the well-deserved recognition of a life dedicated to the game and its community. Today, his legacy lives on in every broadcast, tournament, and player inspired by his story.
What do you think about this topic? Would you like to learn more about Mike Sexton’s life?
If you want to find the best room to play online poker, you can contact us by visiting the following link.
Left image from World Poker Tour via Wikimedia.com under Creative Commons license. Right image from yourpokerdream.com
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New customer only | 18+ | t&cs apply
GlobalPokerDeals.com is committed to rigorous editorial standards. We may receive compensation when you click on links to products we review. Learn more about our affiliate disclosure.
Getting in touch with us is easy. Talk to real people. We don’t use robots here. Write to us and chat with one of our support team. If you decide to play with all our advantages, you will need to have one of these options, Facebook Messenger, Instagram Messenger, Microsoft Teams or Telegram. It will be the means of communication 24/7.