Poker is one of those neat games -- and now professions -- where person can be in their early 20s and have years of experience behind them already. For New Yorker Nicholas Schulman, that is certainly the case. He picked up card games at 17 years old, playing in Cold Springs, New York. Just two years later he gave pro poker shot, certainly possible with today's online poker fever still raging hot.
At age 21 he made World Poker Tour history when he became the youngest player ever to make a final table on the Tour in the United States. In a move that could be attributed to his lack of experience in other matters, Nick reportedly turned down an opportunity to appear on "The Late Show with David Letterman. Why would a poker player with such a success story turn down such great publicity? Especially considering how much poker players can supplement their income with the right endorsement deals, which are extremely sensitive to and dependent on exposure? It was said that he hoped to preserve his anonymity in this way. Other reports indicate he may make an appearance on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, however -- perhaps The Takeover has had second thoughts about those endorsement deals.
Nick plays mostly $5 and $10 no limit poker online, and used to hit many of the poker clubs in New York that have now been shut down. In an online interview Nick confessed that his first year as a professional poker player wasn't the most successful, stating that he was "broke all the time." With a World Poker Tour final win of over $2 million, it appears those days are long gone.
Here are two of Nick's fantastic live tournament finishes.
Event - No Limit Hold'em
2005 WSOP Tournament Circuit - Atlantic City
4th
$ 74,495
$ 10,000 WPT - No Limit Hold'em
2005 World Poker Finals
1st
$ 2,167,500
