Amanda Baker
Hailing from Boulder, Colorado, at the edge of the Rocky Mountains, Amanda Baker was introduced to poker the same was as millions of others. When visiting a friends house in July 2003 she noticed he was watching the World Poker Tour. Intrigued she asked if she could learn the game, a few hours later she was hooked. Over the following summer Amanda dedicated her time to learning the game, using her new found skills to pay her way through a degree in Business, Management and Sociology. Following her academic success she was given an internship at a non-profit organization, aimed at helping businesses to be more socially responsible. However the draw of the felt was too strong, and she soon left to become a professional player.
Earning a name for herself online, under the moniker "Mandy B", she clocked up over $66, 000. Like many, winning an online satellite introduced her to live tournament poker - qualifying to play in the 2005 WPT finals. She was predictably successful in the event, finishing 72nd for a prize of $11,000. From then on she had caught the live tournament bug, going on to cash a number of events including 253rd in the 2007 WSOP main event for $45,000.
Undoubtedly her most impressive performance so far came in the WSOP Circuit event in Indiana. Amanda emphatically dominated her opponents at the final table, knocking out six competitors by herself, on her way to victory. After the event she commented that tournaments were "more fun" to play in than any other style of event. However she did concede that probably earned more money play $5-$10 cash online than she ever could in tournaments. Although the $88,000 first price will no doubt have helped build her bankroll.
It was during this tournament that Amanda pledged to give a portion of her winnings to environmental charities. The plight of the natural world has long been an issue close to Amanda's heart. Her involvement with conservation projects stretches back a number of years. She has previously stated that a diverse life away from the tables helps keep her fresh for when the cards are in the air once again. And with lifetime tournament earnings of over $150,000 in just a few years of professional play, her strategy seems to working perfectly.
Common Misspellings: Amanda Bakir, Amandar Baker, Amanda Bakor
Learn more about Amanda Baker at Full Tilt Poker.
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