Robert Varkonyi's Biography

2002 WSOP Winner was born in 1961 in the state of New York. He first started playing poker when he was a student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He graduated in 1983 (he now holds a degree in EESC). Varkonyi has worked as an investment banker in Brooklyn, New York, for several years before he started participating in poker tournaments.

Varkonyi, who is now a self-proclaimed semi-poker professional, is best known for his incredible and surprising 2002 World Series of Poker win. At the time, fellow poker shark Phil Hellmuth said that the odds against Varkonyi actually nabbing the Champion title were so high that if he won he'd be willing to shave his head. After Varkonyi beat the odds, Hellmuth kept his promise and, without thinking twice, shaved his head for charity.

Varkoniyi's main event win in 2002 was so surprising because, at the time, he was considered a newcomer in the poker pro world. Varkonyi started the final hand holding a Queen of Diamonds and a 10 of Spades. His opponent Julian Gardner had a Jack of Clubs and an 8 of Clubs in his pocket. The flop gave Queen of Clubs, 4 of Clubs and 4 of Spades. Varkonyi was now holding a pair of Queens, while Gardner was only one club away from a flush. The turn brought a 10 of Diamonds and the river a 10 of Clubs. Although both opponents had really great hands, Varkonyi's Full House was undoubtedly stronger than Gardner's Flush. Commenting on his play during the event, Varkonyi said that he played very gutsy and with no fear. As an award for his fearlessness he collected a record-breaking amount of $2 million. Indeed, he was the first WSOP Champ to receive so much money for his final table win.

2002 WSOP Winner now lives in Great Neck, New York, with his wife Olga, one of the chip leaders in the second day of the 2005 WSOP Main Event, and his two daughters. He confessed that he named his first daughter Victoria after his unexpected World Series of Poker win. Since then, Varkonyi produced an instructional poker video, 'Wise Guys on Texas Hold 'em,' featuring several actors from popular TV series 'The Sopranos.' In addition, Varkonyi has participated in various charity poker tournaments and given speeches on the game. Currently, he is a member of the online poker room InterPoker celebrity player team.