Terminally Ill Poker Player Takes Last Shot at WSOP Glory

Kevin Roster, a poker player with terminal cancer, has announced his intention to hit the tables one final time at this year’s World Series of Poker. The New Jersey native will then return to California to take advantage of the state’s right-to-die law. 

Roster has found much solace in the game that we all love. He says playing helps him to feel happy and focus away from the negative things in his life. After losing a leg all the way up to the hip in April, Roster was informed that his lifespan was expected to be between two to four month. 

It was at this point he decided to take matters into his own hands and make arrangements to go out on his own terms. New Jersey is finalising its own “right-to-die” law but it won’t come into effect until August which is expected to be too late. 

For now, the 36-year-old is giving it his best shot in Las Vegas. While fighting tooth and nail across the felt, Roster is also raising awareness about the rare sarcoma cancer that will cost him his life. Upon hearing about Roster’s plight, 2012 WSOP Main Event champion Greg Merson immediately offered to put up the cash for him to freeroll this year’s Main Event.

This gesture from Merson is a great example of what the poker community can be like when one of its own is in need. Roster was also tweeting his thanks to Phil Hellmuth for a couple of freerolls.

Kevin Roster has said that his opinions on how people should deal with this terrible illness don’t mean a thing. What is clear though, is that he has done things his way and raised a ton of awareness about sarcoma in his own courageous way.