 |
This article is uncategorized. Please categorize this article to list it with similar articles. (December 2007) |
Joe Shansi is an American professional poker player. Joe "Mugz" Shansi aka “The Joker” was born as Joseph K. Shansi in Chicago, Illinois in 1979. He is a professional poker player who currently resides in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Shansi is known for playing a very different style poker than traditional. He masters the art of switching his styles and, moreover, his personality at the tables, making him harder to read by opponents. His somewhat tight and non-aggressive style of poker has pummeled his opponents into being one of the greatest No Limit Hold 'Em player. He will be well known for his notorious attitude and his mark of the "The Joker: as he will sometimes be caught wearing its joker mask. He has played amongst some of the top players around the world from Australia to Europe. In his short time on the Circuit, Shansi has quicky become a dominant tournament player. Despite going broke numerous times while trying to master the game, he eventually became one of the most consistent winners in Louisiana's poker circuits and Florida's tournaments. Shansi stated in a recent interview:
| “ | "I can care less for the publicity or the media. What's that going to do for me...All that matters to me is the money. Bracelet? Big deal. That's not going to provide for the family, I'll give the bracelet to a homeless guy that lives under the bridge somewhere in Miami". | ” |
He has played in televised tournaments from the World Poker Tour in Monte Carlo to the Aussie Millions in Australia. He placed 238th place at the 2007 World Series of Poker (WSOP) when he was eliminated by Jerry Yang (poker player), the 2007 World Series of Poker champion His earning have exceeded $2,000,000 throughout his professional career
Personal life
Joe Shansi attended Harper College in Palatine, Illinois. Having no interest in college, he dropped out and worked numerous jobs including UPS (United Parcel Service), lifeguard, banker/teller, and as a librarian. In the winter of 2002, his parents divorced leaving him with all the financial pressures. While working at the bank, he started playing online poker at Full Tilt Poker. He later quit the bank and played poker full time on Full Tilt Poker and he has not looked back since. When Shansi decided to make a transition from online poker to live poker, he and his family moved to Fort Lauderdale, FL where there were more casinos for him In an interview, he stated:
| “ | "There weren't that many casinos in Illinois, after I was pretty sure that I was financially set for a year, I decided to move. So it was between Las Vegas or south Florida...I decided that I would rather keep Las Vegas as a vacation destination rather than my permanant residency...so I moved to Fort Lauderdale, I love the casinos here and I love south Florida. | ” |
His poker earnings as of June, 2007: $2,012,041
