Nationality
Mike Sexton was an American poker player and commentator, holding American nationality and citizenship status.
- Direct message
- Leave a review
- Bookmark
- Share
- Report
- prev
- next
Born (date and place of birth)
Mike Sexton was born on September 22, 1947, in Shelbyville, Indiana, United States.
Residence (current location)
At the time of his passing, Mike Sexton resided in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States, where he had moved permanently in 1985 to focus on his poker career.
Education (institution, specialization)
Mike Sexton attended Ohio State University on a gymnastics scholarship and earned a degree in public recreation.
Children (number, ages)
Specific public information about Mike Sexton's children, including number or ages, is not available.
Year started playing poker
Mike Sexton started playing poker professionally in 1977.
Age when started playing
He began serious involvement in poker at the age of around 30, after initially playing casually and supplementing his income through poker before turning pro.
Year turned professional
Mike Sexton transitioned to professional poker status in 1977.
First major win (amount, tournament, year)
Mike Sexton's first significant tournament victory was in 1989, when he won the $1,500 Seven-Card Stud Split event at the World Series of Poker, earning $104,400.
Who introduced to poker / first mentor
Mike Sexton was introduced to poker at age 13 by his friend Danny Robison, who frequently played with him and served as an early mentor.
First important tournament
His first important tournament experience included finishing third in a Razz event at Amarillo Slim’s Super Bowl of Poker, where he earned $9,500.
Main motivation for turning pro
Sexton’s primary motivation to turn professional was the success and winnings he started to achieve from poker surpassing his income from sales, combined with his passion for the game and its potential as a career.
Initial bankroll
Early financial backing and bankroll arrangements for Mike Sexton are undocumented; however, like many players of his era, he likely started with self-funded bankrolls from winnings and personal savings.
Poker education (courses, coaches)
Mike Sexton did not publicly follow formal poker courses but learned through experience, playing in cash games and tournaments, and skill development over time.
First sponsor/backing
Details on his first sponsorship or backing deal are not publicly recorded; sponsorships were less common early in his career.
Total live tournament winnings
Mike Sexton's total live tournament winnings exceeded $6.7 million over his career.
Number of tournament wins
He won numerous tournaments, including 1 WSOP bracelet and 1 World Poker Tour title, with multiple other notable victories such as the 1992 Foxwoods World Poker Finals and 1996 and 1997 Four Queens Poker Classic.
Number of final tables
Mike Sexton reached dozens of final tables in various tournaments, including 4 in World Poker Tour events and over 20 in WSOP events.
Largest tournament win (amount, tournament, year)
His largest single tournament victory was the $1,000,000 first prize in the 2006 World Series of Poker Tournament of Champions.
WSOP bracelets (number)
Sexton won 1 World Series of Poker bracelet in 1989 in the $1,500 Seven-Card Stud Split event.
WSOP cashes (number)
He had 72 cash finishes at the WSOP, with total WSOP earnings around $2.6 million.
WSOP final tables
Mike Sexton reached multiple WSOP final tables, with records showing about 25 final table appearances.
Best WSOP Main Event result
His best finish in the WSOP Main Event was not a final table, with deeper results primarily in other WSOP events; no top final table finish in the Main Event is recorded.
Super high roller results ($100K+)
No verified participation or notable results in super high roller tournaments ($100K+ buy-in) are recorded for Mike Sexton.
High roller wins ($25K-$100K)
There are no publicly confirmed high roller tournament victories ($25K–$100K buy-in) attributed to Mike Sexton.
Online tournament winnings
Verified data on Mike Sexton’s online tournament winnings is not publicly available.
Major online titles
There are no publicly recorded major online tournament titles held by Mike Sexton.
Poker team
Mike Sexton was chairman and affiliated with partypoker but was not known as part of a specific sponsored poker team.
Main cash game limits
Mike Sexton played a variety of stakes but had a reputation for solid mid-to-high limit cash games, though specific stake levels are not broadly documented.
Highest stakes played
Public records do not specify the exact highest cash game stakes Mike Sexton played.
Notable high stakes sessions
Documented notable high stakes sessions for Mike Sexton are not publicly detailed.
"Big Game" participation
Although respected as a cash game player, Mike Sexton was more known for tournaments and commentary than participation in widely televised "Big Game" style cash matches.
Estimated cash game profits (if known)
Estimated cash game profits are not publicly available or disclosed.
Country ranking
Within the United States poker scene, Mike Sexton was regarded as a top veteran player and ambassador but no official country-specific ranking data is publicly cited.
All Time Money List position
Mike Sexton ranked within the top several hundred on the All-Time Money List, with career earnings over $6.7 million placing him among prominent professional players.
Tournament ROI (if known)
Publicly available data does not provide a precise calculation of Mike Sexton’s tournament ROI.
Average tournament win
His average tournament cash amounts typically ranged in the tens of thousands of dollars, with several six-figure and seven-figure cashes.
ITM percentage
Mike Sexton’s in-the-money percentage over his tournament career is unknown publicly, but consistent cash finishes at major events show a solid ITM rate.
Final table percentage from cashes
His final table percentage was notable, especially in WSOP and WPT events, reflecting strong tournament consistency, though exact percentages are not publicized.
Statistics by year (best/worst year)
Mike Sexton had strong performances from the late 1980s through the 2010s with highlights including 1989 WSOP bracelet win, 2006 WSOP Tournament of Champions win, and 2016 WPT title.
Main discipline (Hold'em, Omaha, Mixed games)
He specialized primarily in No-Limit Hold’em and Seven-Card Stud variants.
Format specialization (tournaments/cash/online/live)
Sexton excelled in live tournament play with significant contributions also as a cash game player; he was also known for mixed games but focused mainly on live play.
Preferred table size (6-max, full ring, heads-up)
Preferred tournament formats were generally full ring events, with experience across 6-max and full ring.
Known formats (NLHE, PLO, HORSE, others)
Mike Sexton was most known for playing NLHE and Seven-Card Stud. He also played mixed formats including Stud Hi-Lo.
Specialization limits
He specialized in mid to high buy-in tournaments and cash games suitable for professional competition, though specific limit preferences are not detailed.
Online rooms where plays
Mike Sexton was closely associated with partypoker as chairman but was not known as a frequent online competitor.
Favorite casinos/locations
Las Vegas venues were his primary venues, with participation in major WSOP, WPT events often held at Rio and other iconic Las Vegas casinos.
Style characterization (TAG, LAG, nitty, aggressive)
Mike Sexton’s playing style was characterized as solid and thoughtful with a balanced, respectful approach, combining aggression with caution.
Known for bluffs/traps
He had a reputation for calculated strategic play rather than extreme bluffing, respected for poker integrity and skillful trapping.
Mathematical or intuitive approach
Sexton combined a mathematical understanding of poker with intuitive play developed from decades of experience.
Style adaptability
His long career and tournament success demonstrated strong adaptability to various opponents and evolving game dynamics.
Playing strengths
Sexton’s strengths included tournament endurance, reading opponents, and promotional skills enhancing his overall poker presence.
GTO strategy usage
Sexton’s career predated widespread modern GTO theory usage, though as a thoughtful pro, he incorporated strategic evolution into his approach.
Poker software usage
There are no known details of extensive poker software usage for training by Mike Sexton.
Television appearances (list of shows with specific episodes/dates)
Mike Sexton was a lead commentator on the World Poker Tour for 15 seasons and appeared on shows such as Poker After Dark and High Stakes Poker.
High Stakes Poker participation (seasons/episodes)
He participated in High Stakes Poker, featuring in various seasons and episodes.
Poker After Dark appearances (episodes/dates)
Sexton appeared multiple times on the Poker After Dark television show.
Documentary films featuring (titles and links)
Mike Sexton featured in documentaries including “Pokerography” on PokerGO, chronicling his life and career.
Major publication interviews (publication names, article titles, links)
Mike Sexton was extensively interviewed by major poker publications such as PokerNews and PokerListings throughout his career.
Podcast appearances (podcast names, episode titles, dates, links)
He appeared as a guest on various poker podcasts discussing his career and poker insights.
Own podcast/channel (name, platform, subscriber count, link)
Mike Sexton did not host a personal podcast but was a frequent guest and voice in poker media.
Facebook (account link)
Mike Sexton’s official Facebook page existed with engagement from the poker community.
YouTube channel (name, subscriber count, link)
Various videos and interviews featuring Mike Sexton are available on poker-related YouTube channels.
Twitch channel (name, follower count, link)
There is no verified record of Mike Sexton maintaining a personal Twitch streaming channel.
TikTok presence (account link, follower count)
Mike Sexton did not have a known TikTok presence.
LinkedIn profile (link)
No publicly available LinkedIn profile for Mike Sexton is known.
Posting frequency in social media
Mike Sexton posted and shared content on poker industry social media selectively, mainly focused on professional announcements and events.
Type of content in social media
Shared content was primarily professional poker insights, tournament updates, and poker promotion.
Current sponsors (company names, deal details if public)
Mike Sexton was sponsored and served as chairman for partypoker during the later stage of his career.
Sponsorship contract history (previous sponsors, dates)
Sponsorship history mainly includes his long-term affiliation with partypoker from its inception through his chairmanship until his death.
Poker site ambassadorship (site names, contract details)
He was an ambassador and chairman for partypoker and promoted poker globally as the “Ambassador of Poker.”
Own business (business names, descriptions, websites)
Mike Sexton did not have prominent personal business ventures outside poker and media but was a leader within partypoker’s corporate structure.
Poker project investments (project names, involvement details)
Sexton contributed to the poker industry by investing his time and leadership in partypoker’s growth.
Coaching services (availability, platforms used)
There is no public record of Mike Sexton offering personal coaching services.
Coaching rates (if public)
Not applicable as there is no public record of coaching services.
Educational materials (book titles with ISBN, course names with platforms, video series titles with links)
Mike Sexton did not publish poker books or formal educational materials, focusing more on commentary and promotion.
Affiliate programs (program names, partnerships)
No public information about affiliate partnerships.
Merchandise (product types, where sold, links)
There was no major personal merchandise line associated with Mike Sexton.
Written poker books (titles, publication years, ISBN, publisher)
Mike Sexton did not write poker books.
Training series participation (series names, platforms, links)
No records of participation in formal poker training series.
Masterclasses and seminars (event names, dates, locations)
Mike Sexton did not host masterclasses but was a respected speaker at industry events.
Coaching work (platforms used, student testimonials)
Not publicly documented.
Notable students (names if public, their achievements)
No known notable students coached by Mike Sexton.
YouTube educational content (video titles, view counts, links)
No specific educational poker content created by Mike Sexton on YouTube.
Poker publication articles (publication names, article titles, publication dates, links)
Mike Sexton occasionally contributed articles and columns in poker publications.
Magazine columns (magazine names, column titles, frequency)
Sexton wrote regular columns for some poker magazines, sharing insights and promotion of poker.
Conference speaking (conference names, dates, topics, video links)
He spoke at major poker industry conferences and events promoting the game.
Poker scandal involvement (scandal names, details, outcomes)
Mike Sexton had a spotless, scandal-free reputation throughout his career.
Accusations of unfair play (specific incidents, resolutions)
No cheating accusations were ever made against Mike Sexton.
Casino/room conflicts (venue names, incident details)
There are no public records of conflicts with casinos or poker rooms involving Mike Sexton.
Legal proceedings (case details, outcomes, court documents)
No legal issues have been publicly recorded regarding Mike Sexton.
Public disputes with colleagues (names involved, details)
Mike Sexton maintained positive relations within the poker community with no public disputes.
Tournament rule violations (tournament names, violations, penalties)
No tournament rule violations or penalties are documented for Mike Sexton.
Tax issues (if public, details, resolutions)
There are no public records regarding tax issues involving Mike Sexton.
Poker community criticism (specific criticisms, responses)
Mike Sexton was widely respected with minimal public criticism.
Response to criticism (statements, actions taken)
Sexton generally responded to any community feedback with professionalism and openness.
Poker industry awards (award names, years, organizations)
Mike Sexton was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2009, a prestigious industry honor.
Hall of Fame inclusion (hall names, induction years)
He was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2009 in recognition of both his playing career and promotional work.
Peer recognition (specific recognitions, award details)
Mike Sexton was highly respected by peers as a major ambassador and poker personality.
Poker publication awards (publication names, award types, years)
Awarded by poker publications primarily for lifetime achievement and influence.
Special achievements (achievement descriptions, recognition details)
Achievements include winning a WSOP bracelet, WPT title, WSOP Tournament of Champions, and pioneering poker commentary.
Records associated with name (record descriptions, verification)
Sexton held the record for longest streak of WSOP cashes spanning over 31 years.
Contribution to poker development (specific contributions, recognition)
Mike Sexton contributed significantly to popularizing poker through commentary, promotion, and leadership at partypoker.
Charity tournaments (tournament names, amounts raised, beneficiaries)
Participated in charity events supporting the poker community; no extensive public records.
Legacy in poker world (specific legacy aspects, community impact)
Remembered as the “Ambassador of Poker,” his legacy includes growing poker’s global appeal and elevating televised poker.
Industry influence (specific influences, changes attributed)
Influential in establishing poker as a mainstream televised sport and developing online poker through partypoker leadership.
Mike Sexton served as lead commentator on the World Poker Tour for 15 seasons and worked on numerous televised poker broadcasts.