Mike Sexton


Mike Sexton is a professional poker player, poker commentator, and a member of the Poker Hall of Fame. He is best known for being one of the commentators for the World Poker Tour.

Born in 1947 in Indiana, Sexton attended Ohio State University and earned a degree in public recreation. Sexton joined the Army in 1970 and served two years, although he didn't see much action in the Vietnam War. He became a salesman after his stint in the army but quit in 1977 after he realized that he could make more money playing poker.

In 1985 Sexton moved to Nevada to pursue poker full time. Sexton was good friends with Stu Ungar and was a pallbearer and speaker at his funeral.

Sexton is best known for being a poker promoter. He is the main host of the World Poker Tour (along with Vince Van Patten) and spokesman for PartyPoker.com. He doesn't play in as many tournaments as he did before.

Although most of today's poker players think of Mike Sexton as just a commentator, his poker accomplishments are very impressive. Most people are surprised to hear that he has cashed in the WSOP 46 times (for a total of $910,792). He also has a bracelet (in the 1989 $1,500 Seven-card Stud Split event) and over $3,825,000 in total tournament winnings.

In 2006, Sexton won the 3rd annual WSOP Tournament of Champions event and the $1,000,000 1st prize.

In 2009, Sexton along with Linda Johnson, Jan Fisher and Lisa Tenner, created PokerGives.org, a nonprofit organization that offers poker players an easier way to give to charity.

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I introduced Mike to holdem 32 years ago. We played headup for hours at a time. Mike and I played the North Carolina/Virginia circuit for years. The same circuit Chris Bell, Michael Gracz and other pros frequent. Mike moved to vegas because no one would play with him anymore. He beat them too consistently. Heis the best 8 or better player I've ever seen. Remember, 8 or better used to be very popular.

I would put him up against the top 10 anyday

rangerdon1 on September 18, 2007

I wouldn't put him in the top 10. As far as Sexton's accomplishments in Poker...those saying he sucks and can't play, why don't you check out some things.

In the 2006 WSOP Sexton is in the Top 10 in tournament winnings with 3.1 million and 37 cashes. His biggest accomplishment was winning the 2006 WSOP Tournament of Champions with the 1 million dollar prize (beating out Daniel Negreanu). In which he donated 500,000 to charity.

Sexton may be more well known for his commentating on the WPT but there's no doubt the man knows how to play. How do you think he gets invited to shows like Poker Superstars and also he'll be on NBC's upcoming 'Poker after Dark' with the usual top quality players (Chan, Ivey, Helmuth, Negreanu, Farha...etc)

UMfanNohio on December 4, 2006

Who cares if McMahon is on steroids? That's not the point.

bad_dog76 on August 31, 2006

At least he's not on steriods, like that faggot McMahon

????? on August 17, 2006

Dude looks like a fat Vince McMahon from the WWE! I bet McMahon could whoop his ass in a fight and in poker

bad_dog76 on August 11, 2006

Did you study the players on wpt?

alan on July 13, 2006

And I wonder what his cut of the Party IPO was.

HPG ADMIN on February 25, 2006

I just wish he did some real hand analysis during the WPT instead of dumbing it down.

HPG ADMIN on February 25, 2006

Simply the best!

????? on February 25, 2006

You turkeys don't know shit.
You assume that he's a know-nothing since he's mainly known as a talking head.

He's the furthest thing from it.
Sexton has a world class game. Was/Is a regular at the 'big games' in Vegas and played as a pro long before the 'poker boom' that we are in now. He was one of Stu Ungars best friends.

Here's a list of his cashes and wins going back to 89 and as best I can tell, Sexton is a millionaire just from Tournament Poker.
I would venture that every single person blabbering their mouths couldn't claim a SINGLE cash in a major, nor a single win in any event whereas Sexton has many.

So, please shut up.
Don't know the guy, have never played with the guy but I do know for sure that he is 'qualified' to say the least.

______________________________

12-Jun-05 United States $ 2,000 Pot Limit Hold'em
36th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2005, Las Vegas 10th $10,930

05-Mar-05 United States Heads-Up No Limit Hold'em
2005 National Heads-Up Poker Championship, Las Vegas 5th $75,000

19-Jan-05 Australia Pot Limit/No Limit Speed Poker
Crown Australian Poker Championships - 2005, Melbourne 1st
A$ 120,000 $ 93,293

18-Jan-05 Australia A$ 10,000 Main Event - No Limit Hold'em
Crown Australian Poker Championships - 2005, Melbourne 11th
A$ 30,000 $ 23,323

15-Jan-05 Australia A$ 5,000 Heads Up No Limit Hold'em
Crown Australian Poker Championships - 2005, Melbourne 3rd
A$ 16,000 $ 12,439

11-Dec-04 United States $ 3,000 No Limit Hold'em
Five-Diamond World Poker Classic, Las Vegas 13th $ 11,967

11-Nov-04 United States $ 500 No Limit Hold'em
2004 World Poker Finals, Mashantucket 12th $ 5,802

08-Jul-04 France € 3,000 Omaha Cup - Pot Limit Omaha
Rendez Vous a Paris, Paris 6th € 8,300 $ 10,120

15-May-04 United States $ 1,500 Seven Card Razz
35th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2004, Las Vegas 10th
$ 4,840

26-Apr-04 United States $ 1,500 Omaha Hi-Lo Split
35th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2004, Las Vegas 18th
$4,120

29-Aug-03 United States $ 1,000 Half Hold'em & Half Omaha Hi/Lo
2003 Legends of Poker, Los Angeles 7th
$ 2,275

17-Jul-03 England £ 750 No Limit Holdem
European Poker Championships 2003, London 8th
£ 4,742 $7,733

19-Apr-03 United States $ 2,000 No Limit Hold'em
34th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2003, Las Vegas 7th $18,920

10-Feb-03 France € 5,000 European Heads Up Championships
Euro Finals of Poker 2003, Paris 1st
€ 65,000 $ 69,968

16-Jan-03 United States $ 500 Omaha Hi/Lo
The Fourth Annual Jack Binion World Poker Open, Tunica 3rd $14,744

09-Oct-02 Aruba $ 300 No Limit Hold'em
2002 Caribbean Poker Classic, Palm Beach 7th
$ 560

18-May-02 United States $ 1,000 Seniors No-Limit Championship
33rd World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2002, Las Vegas 2nd $68,860

12-Feb-02 United States $ 500 7 Card Stud Hi/Lo
2002 L.A. Poker Classic, Los Angeles 18th
$ 648

11-Nov-01 United States $ 500 No Limit Hold'em Championship
2001 Gold Rush, San Francisco 2nd
$ 12,800

19-Oct-01 United States $ 100 7 Card Stud
2001 Fall Classic, Shakopee 5th
$ 407

14-May-01 United States $ 10,000 Championship Event
32nd World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2001, Las Vegas 29th $30,000

01-May-01 United States $ 2,000 Texas Hold'em (pot limit)
32nd World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2001, Las Vegas 9th
$ 8,380

27-Apr-01 United States $ 1,500 Omaha (pot limit)
32nd World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2001, Las Vegas 16th
$4,175

26-Apr-01 United States $ 1,500 Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo Split Eight or Better
32nd World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2001, Las Vegas 15th
$3,345

12-Dec-00 United States $ 500 No Limit Hold'em
2000 United States Poker Championship, Atlantic City 7th
$ 2,050

09-Jul-00 United States $ 130 Omaha Hi-Lo
2000 Orleans Open, Las Vegas 9th
$ 1,045

01-Jul-00 France FF 10,000 No Limit Holdem
Summer Tournament 2000, Paris 11th FF 10,000
$ 1,454

15-May-00 United States $ 10,000 World Championship No Limit Texas Hold'em
31st World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2000, Las Vegas 12th $52,160

11-Mar-00 France FF 30,000 European Holdem Championship
Euro Finals of Poker 2000, Paris 1st
FF 1,153,500 $ 169,657

02-May-99 United States $ 2,500 No Limit Hold'em
30th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 1999, Las Vegas 23rd
$ 4,605

08-May-98 United States $ 5,000 Seven-Card Stud
29th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 1998, Las Vegas 10th
$7,800

02-May-98 United States $ 2,500 Seven-Card Stud Split
29th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 1998, Las Vegas 14th
$3,000

03-May-97 United States $ 2,500 Seven-Card Stud Split
28th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 1997, Las Vegas 9th
$ 4,388

03-Jul-96 England £ 500 Omaha
Grosvenor European Open Championships, London 4th
£ 2,900 $4,461

25-Jun-96 England £ 100 Seven Card Stud
Grosvenor European Open Championships, London 5th
£ 550 $ 846

09-May-96 United States $ 5,000 Seven-Card Stud
27th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 1996, Las Vegas 7th $13,000

02-May-96 United States $ 2,500 Seven-Card Stud Split
27th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 1996, Las Vegas 4th $16,450

23-Apr-96 United States $ 2,000 Limit Hold'em
27th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 1996, Las Vegas 27th
$5,280

15-May-95 United States $ 10,000 No Limit Hold'em World Championship
26th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 1995, Las Vegas 23rd $17,300

08-May-95 United States $ 2,500 Seven-Card Stud
26th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 1995, Las Vegas 8th
$ 7,000

01-May-95 United States $ 1,500 No Limit Hold'em
26th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 1995, Las Vegas 9th
$ 8,235

29-Apr-95 United States $ 1,500 Seven-Card Razz
26th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 1995, Las Vegas 6th
$ 8,280

28-Apr-95 United States $ 1,500 Seven-Card Stud Split
26th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 1995, Las Vegas 5th $15,900

27-Apr-95 United States $ 1,500 Omaha Limit
26th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 1995, Las Vegas 4th $14,820

28-Apr-94 United States $ 2,500 Omaha 8 or Better
25th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 1994, Las Vegas 5th $14,163

03-Jul-93 England £ 1,000 British Open Main Event NLH
1993 Festival Of Poker, London 5th
£ 4,350 $ 6,465

10-May-93 United States $ 10,000 No Limit Hold'em World Championship
24th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 1993, Las Vegas 24th $12,000

23-Apr-93 United States $ 1,500 Seven-Card Stud Split
24th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 1993, Las Vegas 6th $11,340

11-May-92 United States $ 10,000 No Limit Hold'em World Championship
23rd World Series of Poker (WSOP) 1992, Las Vegas 23rd
$ 8,080

05-May-92 United States $ 5,000 Omaha Pot Limit
23rd World Series of Poker (WSOP) 1992, Las Vegas 4th
$16,800

13-May-91 United States $ 10,000 No Limit Hold'em World Championship
22nd World Series of Poker (WSOP) 1991, Las Vegas 24th
$9,200

May-91 United States $ 1,500 Omaha Pot Limit
22nd World Series of Poker (WSOP) 1991, Las Vegas 7th
$ 5,475

07-May-89 United States $ 1,500 Omaha Pot Limit
20th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 1989, Las Vegas 6th
$ 9,450

04-May-89 United States $ 1,500 Seven-Card Stud Split
20th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 1989, Las Vegas 1st $104,400

gulfport. on September 29, 2005

This once again proves the fact that all fat fucks are good at poker. Maybe not in his case.

Unregistered on August 23, 2005

he is the worst player in practice, knows everything as commentator, I would like to take some money from him, he is like a open book.

McDaddy11 on August 22, 2005

Him and that mad jerk Caro are worst players I ve seen ever.Caro knows all tells cause he invented that shit, just raise him, and he folds like a baby. He could never possibly guess what the fuck u have, and u know him, wannabe rock.

McDaddy11 on August 22, 2005

horseshit...The worst fucking player on the tour.

Unregistered on August 20, 2005

I don't think people understand how much he has done for poker. Aside from the movie Rounders, Mixe Sexton has been a driving force behing the commercialization of poker that we have seen in recent years. He was pretty much the man who convinced TV producers that poker on TV (on a semi-regular basis) would fly. If you enjoy poker on TV, thank Mike Sexton for it. As far as his own card skills, he is a great player. He isn't a Brunson or a Hellmuth or a Ungar, but he definitley plays at that 98th percentile level that, depending on how the cards fall, could easily wind him up at a final table or two and beat anyone on any given day.

gulfport. on August 19, 2005

Hey Sexton, may all your wives be ugly and all your pot, green. LOL.

englishcat on August 6, 2005

I've learned alot listening to and watching him play.

delightfuldogs on August 6, 2005

Then why do u have trouble paying bills?

To Phil on July 25, 2005

This guy is cool. He makes the WPT cool. He is a lil fat but hey its all good. Id own him any day of the year.......i've won a 9 Wsop Bracelets. Yall are jealous of me. ;) I could easily woop all yer asses. So dont play!

Phil Hellmuth Jr. on July 22, 2005

Hey Mikey! I knew I could find you here. Thanks for all the nice things you said about me in the book. But by the way, I am in need up here. Moses took me down by hitting a two outer on the river. Can you loan me a few bucks? Thanks!

Stu Ungar on July 19, 2005

This guy needs to be escorted from the table and the mic. He is one of the worst commentators I have ever seen and heard. The face of the game is young - the face of the game is Phil Ivey, it is Scott Fischman. It is not Mike Sexton. Alot of people watch the WPT on tv and it sucks that we have to listen to this guy. Vince is bad enough, but tollerable. He needs a funny, young sidekick to interject some thoughtful insight on a game that Mike obviously knows nothing about. He consistantly makes amature mistakes on professional stages, on and off the mic. Im sure he had his run but this guy is washed up. I completely aggree with Maestro up there about what the commentators really need to be talking about, I remember thinking to myself during a telecast the exact same thing. And for god sake's producers, listen up!!!! We know how to play hold 'em!!!!!!!! We know what drawing dead means!!! And if the person watching doesn't know, let them figure it out or ask someone else in the room, or better yet - dont waste your time watching poker on tv if you dont even know what a turn card is. Im tired of it. Same goes for the WSOP on ESPN. If I have to see that guy make his 10's full of Kings one more time im gonna lose my mind. You don't hear basball announcers teaching us how 4 balls means you get to go to first every freakin game!!!! Poker needs a new voice, someone witty and someone who knows the game in and out. Someone like me, thats why im in broadcasting school currently. Maybe someday I can save all of our ears from this guy who is in the wrong profession.

MikeRizzTheProphet on July 18, 2005

playing a solid game at poker superstars

twhacker on July 14, 2005

I think that Mike Sexton needs to improve the commentary all round. He (along with all the other commentators) need to start commentating like the audience knows how to play the game. I understand that in popular media poker is a relativly new game for the masses, however name one other sport that spends more time explaining what the terminology/rules are than what is actually being done. They need to start commentating on WHAT THE PLAYERS ARE THINKING. That is what its all about, what the other players might have, what their bets are representing, the possabilities. Fair enough we can see what they actually have, but thats not the point, they players cant, so you should judge, or commentate, according to what they acctually have, they need to start commentating on what the community cards COULD become with two extra cards. It is just the next step that televised poker need to take, we are beyond the beginner stages, move on. Also if I hear Mike Sexton make another stupid comment, like repeating, word for word what a player has just said on the table I will scream, how stupid does he think we are. i.e. Player says: "I just cant get a good hand", Mike says: "They're saying they cant get a good hand down at the table"....thanks Mike we heard it for ourselves.

maestro on July 3, 2005

Although he is the most helpful commentator on TV he has got to learn some things still. 82 is the second worst starting hand, not 83 for example. Also it is spades not SPADE! Alot more helpful with the game than the guys at the WSOP though.

greatwhite on July 2, 2005

He is a good commentator, but plays too much by the book to be a top no limit poker player.

Omar the Tentmaker on June 26, 2005

This guy thinks he knows it all, every angle.. yet would probably bust out in 312th place in any real world poker tour event.

Vince on May 25, 2005

vince mcmahons twin brother??? wrestler?

vincen on May 25, 2005

What's the deal with that hair piece he's wearing in the photo? He must take it off outside of commentating.Another thing - on the world poker tour. Both him and vince sit close to the table and are suppose to be commentating as it happens. The problem is that they're so close that you'd think the players might hear em say "look at that, hes got the big slick" since they dont quieten their voices and its usually pretty quiet. Secondly, since they only show a select few hands but the commentary sounds continuous like its hand after hand. So obviously they must dub it in later and not really commentating as it happens.

Observer on May 21, 2005

Does Mike Sexton have a problem with singular and plural when it comes to card suits? Why can he say: Hearts, Diamonds, and Clubs—but insists on saying "Spade?" Soooooo annoying! Vince VanPatten may not know as much about poker as Mike, but he can at least say Spades...

chadn50 on April 29, 2005

Mike Sexton is a GREAT poker player. If you bothered to WATCH Poker by the Book you would have noticed that Mike made hardly ANY mistakes. He was eliminated rather quickly but it had nothing to do with his gameplay being flawed. If you know poker you know Mike is one of the VERY BEST.

Big Ern on March 3, 2005

"OK...Give us a flop"

Unregistered on March 2, 2005

this guy is a complete clown, your typical railbird "he should of done this" "he should of done that" did you see Sexton on the wpt's poker by the book? he went out in 10 minutes!

sexton sucks on February 22, 2005

lol, at the john madden comparison. it's funny all the stuff he says. mike, just remember, you get to see the cards..... the players don't. all and all he is a good commentator. he adds unintentional humor to poker.

nfl footbal 94 on February 20, 2005

This guy has a bad accent, he insults good poker players' intelligence the way he always states the obvious. It reminds me of John Madden. The guy also says "he's heading for whitewater" too often. Other than these few negatives....I'm sorry he's still a bad commentator

I call it how I see it on February 12, 2005

It always makes me laugh when he says "World Poker Tour" Just something about how he says it.

Unregistered on January 29, 2005

I think his favourite thing to say is "he says OK give us a flop" :)

Enkhbat on December 7, 2004

he's good to listen to but jessie may rocks...

ickgoo on November 18, 2004

Mike is a good commentator but I'm growing tired of his comments on players not playing hands that he wouldn't touch as a player. Sometimes he is overly critical. He may do that because he needs to bring some analysis to the game since Vince doesn't know how to say anything beyond "big slick," and "American Airlines."

slvsc2 on November 16, 2004

Makes the game very interesting to watch and breaks the hands down very well, and I also love his passion for the game.

wizardofoz on October 23, 2004

Norman Chad who? This guy is the real deal!

Stormin Norman on October 8, 2004

Mike Sexton is GOD!! Clearly a much much better announcer than lon and normon chad.

Gus is the man on September 4, 2004

Bingo Bango Bongo!Mike Sexton is just an awesome presenter,the only reason he sticks to basic commentary is because it works!,When you start making it complicated thats when people will switch off!Watch out for his crazy hands Van Patten!!

Ratsyboy on August 25, 2004

He's talking about pre-flop position, which is probably the most important time to have position because the dealer can bail out w/out losing any $ or raise and force the blinds if everybody folds in front of him. Powerful position.As for Sexton and Van Patten, they both have to stop treating the audience like morons and focus on advanced topics rather than bone basic commentary. In fact, does the WPT really need both of them?

GreenMountainDragon on July 29, 2004

i would like to know why mike always says that a player is in position when he is on the button,,he says because tthe player has seen what the other players are going to do,,,it seems to me that the big blind would be the favorable position as he/she has seen what all the players are going to do,,. thanks

p3vorion on July 17, 2004

Mike seems to be a really good guy who has a great love for poker and is really trying to help it grow and expand. He is a good person for poker in general.

Gman on June 29, 2004

Made No LImit Hold'em great in the UK

Garry Wilson, UK on June 26, 2004

what are you talking about, sexton has had success in the wsop, get your head out of your arse

OSU gynamstics rocks on June 7, 2004

This former Ohio St. gymnast is a terror on the matt as well as the felt. His commentary is TOP ONE. Sexton is a good no limit player and also does one heck of a floor exercise.

Jacob Mugutberg on June 7, 2004

better commentator then player - not a No lmit hold em player at all

Unregistered on June 6, 2004

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