Lee Watkinson, a 40 year old poker pro from Cheny, WA is a
Full Tilt Pro, with a 2006 WSOP bracelet in the $10,000 PLO event, starting at the FT with 9,925,000 in chips.
Pictured here with his girlfriend after the bracelet win:
According to the
Hendon Mob Lee's cashes total
$2,677,668
Lee has finished in the money in the ME three of the last four years, (45th in 2005, and 113th in 2004.)
Cardplayer describes Lee as:
Lee Watkinson is a 40-year-old poker pro, businessman, and animal rights activist from Cheney, Wash. He is one of only two players at the final table who currently owns a WSOP gold bracelet. In 2006, Watkinson won the Pot-Limit Omaha World Championship. He owns a few businesses as well, including a record company and a clothing line - which were started exclusively with his poker winnings. The Washington State native holds a degree in economics, which perhaps explains why Watkinson is so astute as an investor and poker professional. Yet, often when he is interviewed Watkinson is quick to shift everyone's attention to a greater, more humanitarian purpose. Watkins and his fiancé Timmi DeRosa share a commitment to rescuing and retiring captive chimpanzees, many of which have been used in everything from movies to research laboratories.
Here's a Pokerlistings
interview with Lee after his bracelet win:
How do you feel after winning your first WSOP bracelet?
I feel elated - relieved and elated. It's great. I've been on a cold streak, and this was the first time I've made it past the dinner break in this World Series.
You have finished in second place a number of times. Do you feel relieved to have finally won a major tournament?
Yes, it's a relief. I lost a huge pot in the beginning of heads-up, and I was starting to think that I'm never going to win a tournament, but it's nice to know I can do it.
From
Wikipedia:
Watkinson made back-to-back World Poker Tour (WPT) final tables during its third season. The first time he finished 2nd to Eli Elezra, and the second time he finished 2nd again, this time to Doyle Brunson.
And:
He is an economics graduate and quotes wrestling and surfing as his main interests outside of poker. He wrestled at 142 pounds in college and 187 pounds the last time that he wrestled in 2001......His poker nickname among Vegas pros has been Lee "Sandwich" Watkinson for his tendency to trap players by using a "sandwich raise" with or without a good hand, notably by Phil "Unabomber" Laak.
Watch his
WSOP FT interview here.
As a Full Tilt qualifier, Lee would win an extra $10 million from Tilt if he takes home the bracelet. In the interview he talks about spreading some of the extra $10 mil around to other players charity causes.
He also touches on aggressive online players and how it may affect their ability to go deep in the ME.