Aaron Kanter
Aaron Kanter Rides $55 WSOP Step Tournament on PartyPoker.com to $2 Million 4th Place finish in WSOPThe 27-year-old from Elk Grove, CA, known as "AK," is a former bank loan officer who was playing in his very first WSOP. Kanter holds a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies from Chico State and was born in California’s central valley. He knocked out last year’s champion Greg Raymer during the tournament. Kanter, now a professional player, began playing poker in high school for dimes and quarters. He's been playing regularly on PartyPoker.com for the past two years. Going into the final day, Kanter was the chip leader with $10,700,000 but was knocked out at 4:00 a.m. when his Ace-9-9, was topped by "Tex" Barch's three jacks on the river.Kanter, still overwhelmed by the experience, said: "It felt unreal walking into a room with 200 tables and thousands of players, then working my way down to 20, then 10, two and finally, the final table." Kanter, who plans to use his prize money to secure his future with property and investments, will be one of the featured players joining the PartyPoker.com Million V in March 2006.
Andy Black
PartyPoker.com was also the conduit for another player who made the final table. Andrew Black from Ireland won $1.75 million and finished one place below Kanter. To qualify, Black entered a $300 + $28 satellite. Black, nicknamed "The Monk," had been a professional poker player who competed in the 1997 and 1998 WSOPs, but the pressure of high stakes poker and the disappointment of one last bad beat caused him to retire from the game. Black, who holds a law degree from Trinity College, ultimately went to India to become a Buddhist and devote his life to charitable fund raising. Living the aesthetic life of a monk, he lived on minimal money. However, after nearly six years, he returned to Ireland with only €100 euros and started playing poker again on PartyPoker.com, where he was able to build up his bankroll and his self-confidence. Looks like it paid off!
