"If they want me, they can come to Florida," Kevin Schaffel said just after he secured the sixth
seat in the Final Table of the 2009 WSOP Main Event. Until the actual tournament that will be held in November, though, he’ll be staying away from poker and taking a break.
This 51-year-old Floridian is a semi-retired businessman whose dream is to win the Main Event so he can fully retire in order to play more of his favorite game—poker.
This father of two has been playing poker on a serious level for more than five years now and has profited at least $168,000 in tournament winnings. His biggest cash before this
chance was 42nd place in the 1994 WSOP Main Event 15 years ago, which paid him $60,000. His other hobbies include golf, racquetball, and gin rummy.
After winning, he commented on his feelings and strategy for the final table, "I'm feeling unbelievable. I just got my text messages set at 1,500. I should have gone
unlimited, because I'm going to go over that tonight. Right now, I'm not thinking about playing poker. I need to double up twice, and I'll be in the chip lead. I'll play golf. A lot of golf."
He continued, "I'm delirious right now. I'll come back in November and do what I can. If it's meant to be, it's meant to be. It's been a great ride whatever happens.
My son is on cloud nine. I can't wait to come back."
On top of landing a spot in the November Nine, he’s got an endorsement deal with PokerStars.net and a bona fide career in poker ahead of him. After his direct mail
and printing business failed in 2006, he’s been holding a residence out of a friend’s home and traveling around playing poker, though he wants to stay in South Florida
where his two college-age children are. “I think I’ll be able to afford a place of my own now,” he says.
Read about all the WSOP 2009 November Nine.
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