Former JFS pupil Andrew Feldman has become one of the UK’s youngest professional poker players. Mr Feldman, 21, has been signed to Full Tilt Poker, an online poker community which will now sponsor him.
He has been playing for the past three years and won the 888 UK Open in 2007. Mr Feldman, who lives in Bushey, Hertfordshire, tells People: “I went to the Maccabiah Games in 2006 for badminton and started playing a lot of poker out there in my spare time. When I returned I played a lot on the internet.” He decided not to go to university but to devote his time to a career as a professional player.
Is it a risky business? “Of course, because there is an element of luck. But the better players will end up in profit.” He says: “Initially my family were concerned but now they can see how much skill is involved and are happy.” So how much has he won? “I don’t really like to talk about money but it’s in seven figures”. The Fulltilt website estimates his career tournament earnings as more than $320,000.