The Next Moneymaker? Broke Pro Hits the Million
7 years ago
09 Jun
A poker pro, let’s call him Ben Keeline, has to drive taxis to pay the bills, borrows money from his dad to play the World Series, is reduced to a chip and a chair… and then scoops a $million! It could only be a movie script…except…it happened in real-life!
The 30-year old was on the verge of giving up poker completely recently, telling reporters after his colossal win, aptly enough in the Colossus II event:
“I play this stupid game all the time and get fucked. I was ready to quit. I almost didn't come to the Series because I couldn't pay my bills if I didn't have a winning Series.";
For the second time in his career the young Boulder-resident pro had hit rock-bottom, last year’s $218,762 payday for second spot in the 2015 WSOP Circuit Main Event at Choctaw long gone, followed this January by his backer pulling out.
Keeline had started driving for Uber to put food on the table, but if he was close to quitting, his parents certainly weren’t. Ponying up the money for their son’s trip to this year’s WSOP in Vegas, their faith was rewarded as he outlasted a field of 21,612 other players to take down the title, the bracelet and the $1million first prize.
“I can't believe it. It's an amazing feeling. I'm elated. It's unreal,” he told reporters afterwards, explaining, "It has been my goal of mine since I was a kid. I can remember vividly watching poker on TV in the basement with my Dad, explaining to him how the cards worked. We were watching the old WSOP stuff and he asked me if I ever thought I'd play someday.”
Play he did, but things looked ominous for the Oswego, Illinois-born pro after running his pocket kings into aces and suffering other reverses as he watched his second buy-in slip away. Incredibly, despite only having a single ante at one point, he survived his first all-in and scraped his way back into the tournament – helped by a cold deck suddenly becoming much warmer to him.
A similar scenario resulted in Chris Moneymaker winning the 2003 Main Event, when the unknown accountant won his entry to the Main Event in a $38 online satellite and fought his way past thousands to land the coveted gold bracelet.
This time round a huge share of the $10million+ prize-pool beckoned once Keeline reached the final table, streamed live on the WSOP website, and he finally took down the lion’s share after defeating Czech pro Jiri Horak in the heads-up finale long after this reporter had gone to bed in Horak’s homeland!
I wouldn't be here if I didn't have a lot of people behind me with faith in me," Keeline admitted, explaining that "The two biggest scores in my life have come at my lowest points. I've had a really hard time lately, and I've just tried to stay positive.”
With the first prize safely in his pocket, Keeline outlined his plans for the immediate future, which may not involve a huge amount of poker – instead talking of starting up his own business or simply continuing his Uber driving and playing poker part-time. Marrying his long-time girlfriend is also high on the agenda.
Summing up what the Colossus win meant to him, a tearful Keeline said:
The bracelet is an amazing trophy, but I really can't believe I have a million dollars. My dad is going to be so proud,” added Ben, explaining that his parents “have really been by my side my whole life, even when I didn't think they were."
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