Twenty-three Year Old wins $5,000 WSOP Circuit at Harrah

The World Series of Poker Circuit made their stop at Harrah's Rincon and yesterday and one hundred and forty seven players showed up to participate. The winner of the $5,000 event was a twenty three year old young man from Minnesota. Mickey Pickett has been playing poker since he was eighteen in cards rooms in Minnesota. He learned Limit Hold'em from his brothers since it was the only legal variety of poker allowed in the local card room he played in.

Pickett made it to the final table in seventh place. Pros Lee Watkinson and Gavin Smith were still in the game and stiff competition. Yet Pickett prevailed and finished in first place taking home $229,002. He also received $11,000 that is to be used for a seat in the 2008 WSOP Championship event. This is his first large win. Pickett played in last year's $5,000 WSOP heads-up event but came in ninth.

"Only five percent of all poker players make a profit," Pickett declared following his improbable victory. "I don't want to say that nobody should try and play poker for a living because that sounds hypocritical. But I think you have to start out with a plan and stick with it. That's what I have done. From the start, I took this very seriously. I am really fortunate because I have a lot of close friends who help me to stay in line and be accountable," Pickett said. "We talk a lot about poker hands and situations. The support network really helps me because instead of going on tilt, I think about what I have done and try to improve. If you take a beat, you have to forget about it and move on. I have learned that is the toughest thing for many players to do."