Laid-off Construction Workers Wins Poker Tournament
Kevin Cantwell lost his construction job in November, but not to worry, his hands earned him a hefty payout just the same.
"The Shrewsbury man pocketed $630,488 when he won the main event of the two-week New England Poker Classic -- the no-limit Texas Hold 'Em final table -- at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut.
"…Cantwell laid down $60 and played through three preliminary rounds to win a seat in the top tournament at the classic, which otherwise would have required a $5,000 buy-in. He outlasted 386 competitors over three days (25 hours of play), ending with a first-place win on April 11.
"…The 50-year-old started playing poker for fun with his high school buddies and first headed to Foxwoods for games and tournaments about eight years ago.
"…He read books on the game, watched DVDs, and played Internet poker to sharpen his skills. He started playing no-limit Texas Hold 'Em the last couple of years because it's the main-event game of the big tournaments.
"…The New England Poker Classic was the first big tournament win for Cantwell. His previous top prize was $4,200.
"…So far he has no special plans for his $630,488 in winnings…"
2005-04-12
