Journalist best WSOP Academy pupil

He came to the table thinking he had nothing to learn, but after winning the World Series of Poker Academy tournament for a 2007 Main Event seat last week in Indiana, journalist Michael Kaplan is backpedaling.

"I stand corrected," the amateur player and poker author said in a statement. "It was the lessons from the WSOP Academy that gave me the skills and confidence to take down the tournament."

The WSOP Academy is a series of instructional camps, the first of which was held at Caesars Indiana Hotel & Casino last weekend.

After one day of training, participants played in a tournament for a seat at this year's World Series championship this July.

Kaplan, who authored Aces and Kings - a collection of poker player biographies - outlasted a field of 100 players which included pros such as Greg Raymer, Scott Fischman and Alex Outhred for the win.

The longtime poker fan competed in last year's Main Event and, in 2005, won the WSOP media and celebrity tournament. Kaplan is a native of New York and a writer who has contributed pieces to Sports Illustrated, Details and Maxim, Among others.

The tournament's second and third place finishers received free entry into a future WSOP Academy event. Remaining players at the final table nabbed Oakley Thumps or Oakley Sunglasses.

The next scheduled Academy is a ladies-only poker camp set to take place in Las Vegas during the World Series this June. Also set to go in July is a three-day Main Event poker camp with instructors such as Phil Hellmuth, Joe Hachem, and Greg Raymer.

Details on the events can be found at www.wsopacademy.com.

courtesy of Erin Warner

News Added: 12 April, 2007

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