John Gale (13 December 1953 – 18 November 2019) was an
English
English usually refers to:
* English language
* English people
English may also refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England
** English national ide ...
professional
poker player based in
Bushey
Bushey is a town in the Hertsmere borough of Hertfordshire in the East of England. It has a population of over 25,000 inhabitants. Bushey Heath is a large neighbourhood south east of Bushey on the boundary with the London Borough of Harrow ...
,
Hertfordshire.
Gale started playing
Texas hold 'em
Texas hold 'em (also known as Texas holdem, hold 'em, and holdem) is one of the most popular variants of the card game of poker. Two cards, known as hole cards, are dealt face down to each player, and then five community cards are dealt fa ...
in mid-2004. He first made a name for himself by qualifying for the
World Poker Tour
The World Poker Tour (WPT) is an internationally televised gaming and entertainment brand. Since 2002, the World Poker Tour has operated a series of international poker tournaments and associated television series broadcasting playdown and the f ...
(WPT) 2005
PokerStars Caribbean Poker Adventure tournament in
The Bahamas
The Bahamas (), officially the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, is an island country within the Lucayan Archipelago of the West Indies in the North Atlantic. It takes up 97% of the Lucayan Archipelago's land area and is home to 88% of the ar ...
in an online satellite tournament. He went on to win the first place prize of $890,600, outlasting a 461 player field in his first major live tournament.
Upon returning to his management consultant job, he found less of an interest in day-to-day activities and sold the business to concentrate on poker full-time.
Gale finished in the money on the
European Poker Tour
The European Poker Tour (EPT) is a series of poker tournaments similar to those in the World Poker Tour (WPT), created by John Duthie, winner of the inaugural Poker Million tournament. It began in 2004 as part of the worldwide explosion in Tex ...
the next month, and finished in the money four times during the
2005 World Series of Poker
The 2005 World Series of Poker opened play on June 2nd, continuing through the Main Event No Limit World Championship starting on July 7th. The conclusion of the Main Event on July 15th marked the close of play, and the largest prize in sports an ...
, including a second-place finish to
Brian Wilson in the $5,000
pot limit
In the game of poker, the play largely centers on the act of betting, and as such, a protocol has been developed to speed up play, lessen confusion, and increase security while playing. Different games are played using different types of bets, ...
hold 'em event. He also made it through to day 2 of the $10,000
no limit
No Limit may refer to:
Music Record labels
*No Limit Records, a record label founded by Master P
* No Limit Forever Records, a record label founded by Romeo Miller, son of Master P
Albums
* ''No Limit'' (Art Pepper album), 1977
* ''No Limit'' ...
hold 'em main event.
At the
2006 WSOP, Gale won Event #29 (a $2,500 Pot Limit Hold'em event) when his K♣ 9♠ defeated Maros Lechman's A♠ 6♠ on a board of T♣
9♦ 7♣ 5♠ 2♣ in the final hand. Gale was awarded $374,849 along with a WSOP bracelet.
During the
2015 WSOP
The 2015 World Series of Poker is the 46th annual World Series of Poker (WSOP). It was held from May 27 – July 14 at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Paradise, Nevada. There were 68 bracelet events, culminating in the $10,000 No Limit Hold' ...
, Gale won Event #18 (a $1,000 Turbo No Limit Hold'em event). He secured the victory over Gary Luther in heads-up play when he was re-raised all in pre-flop holding 2♣
2♥ versus Luther's A♣ 3♠. Gale called and the board ran out
8♥ 4♥ 4♦ 10♠ 9♣ giving him the winning hand. He was awarded $298,290 and his second WSOP bracelet.
As of 2015, his total live tournament winnings exceed $3,600,000. His 10 cashes as the WSOP account for $954,900 of those winnings.
Gale died on 18 November 2019 at the age of 65.
References
External links
World Poker Tour profilePokerListings.com interview
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gale, John
1953 births
English poker players
2019 deaths
World Poker Tour winners
World Series of Poker bracelet winners
People from Bushey