Lee Watkinson
Lee Watkinson has always tried to keep a low profile in life. However, since he entered the poker circuit in 1994, it hasn’t been as easy for him. Why? Because of his results.
Lee grew up in Washington, and earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics. After graduating in 1994, he played in his first major poker tournament, at the LA Poker Classic. He cashed in 10th place, then virtually disappeared from the poker world.
In 2003, he re-emerged stronger than ever. He made a couple major final tables in 2003, then had a year every pro could be jealous of in 2004. He was named Player of the Year by Card Player Magazine earning more than $1,500,000 in major events. He had many final table appearances, and finishing in the top 4 in almost all of them.
One of the best accomplishments in WPT history was made by Watkinson. In 2004, he made back to back final tables, at the Mirage Poker Showdown (281 entrants) the Legends of Poker (661 entrants). He finished second in both of them, to Eli Elezra and Doyle Bruson. He also earned more than $1,000,000 for his showing.
Lee is known by many as one of the best Omaha players today. In 2004, he finished 2nd in the $5,000 WSOP pot-limit Omaha event. This final table had poker greats such as Howard Lederer, Daniel Negreanu, and Jeffrey Lisandro. He felt that this was his tournament to win. He forgot about this loss in 2006, where he captured his first WSOP bracelet in the $10,000 pot-limit Omaha event with a field of over 200 entrants. This win meant more to him than anything in his poker career:
Twelve years after his inconspicuous start on the pro poker circuit, the spotlight shone solely on Lee as he won the $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha event at the 2006 WSOP. Lee used his well-known aggressive tactics to out-last an impressive field of more than 200 players, consisting of many of the world's Pot-Limit experts, including the event's defending champion, Rafi Amit. [From http://www.fulltiltpoker.com/leeWatkinson.php]
Lee is a true master of the game. He has been playing since a teenager, and his success speaks for itself. However, even with all the money and success he remains very humble. "What you see is what you get," he says. "I just try to always be thinking out there and do the best I can."
Lee never lets anything get to his head, which can be one of the biggest downfalls for any poker player.
When not playing poker, Watkinson is a well known animal activist. He has donated a lot of his winnings toward building a sanctuary for captive Chimpanzees. After his WSOP bracelet victory, he took out his girl friend and chimps out for ice cream.
Lee, and every poker player today, aspires to have the success he had in 2004. Known as a master of the game, he will try to mirror his current results.
Coming Misspellings: Lee Wakinsen, Lee Watkinsen, Lee Watiksun, Lee Wakitson, Lee Watinson, Lee Wakitsen
Learn more about Lee Watkinson at Full Tilt Poker.
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