T.J. Cloutier
T.J. Cloutier is one of the
most veteran poker players on the major tournament
circuit and has over 50 major tournament wins to his
name. It’s also estimated that he’s won nearly $7
million in his illustrious poker career. T.J., still
sporting a powerful figure, went to UC Berkeley on a
football scholarship and played in the Rose Bowl in
1959. After dropping out of college because of financial
strain, he later played in the Canadian Football League
for a few years but suffered a career-ending injury.
Cloutier moved to Texas and did odd jobs on oil rigs
until he discovered the money he could make playing
poker.
Perhaps his greatest distinction is “the greatest poker
player to have never won the WSOP Main Event”.
Personally, I feel as though this is a pretty ridiculous
title. How many of us have had terrible beats knock us
out in second place for a tournament or Sit ‘n Go?
That’s exactly what happened when Chris “Jesus” Ferguson
crippled T.J with a dominated hand in the 2000 Main
Event. Ferguson eventually went on to take the title.
Cloutier also has 3 other finishes in the top 5 of the
Championship. He credits most of his successes with his
ability to read every action from his opponents and
remember them for years.
Besides the Main Event, T.J. Cloutier has 4 WSOP
bracelets including one in each of the 3 Omaha events:
High-Low, Pot-Limit, and High. He’s the only player to
reach that accomplishment. He places third all-time in
total WSOP prize money with almost $3 million in
winnings. You can catch some of his great tournament
play in the first season of Poker Superstars. He has
co-authored 3 tournament poker books with WSOP Champion
Tom McEvoy and brings his wife Joy along with him on the
tournament circuit. Their home is in Texas and they have
6 children.
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