Tom McEvoy

Tom McEvoy started playing poker at age 5. His grandfather taught him the overall game and he took a liking to the game immediately. He was frequently in some trouble at school for playing the game. He took up playing poker regular after he discovered that he could make more money playing poker than he could working a regular job.

McEvoy was a strong force in poker in the 80's and early 90's. He won his first bracelet in 1983 when he took the $1, 000 Limit Holdem event. The first Main Event satellite happened in 1983 and the winner of this satellite was Tom McEvoy. McEvoy then made the last table of the Main Event that included Doyle Brunson. McEvoy wound up heads up with Rod Peate. The heads-up match with Peate lasted over 7 hours and was the record for heads-up play until 2006. Ultimately, McEvoy won the Main Event and the $540, 000 top prize. He made history to be the first player to win their Main Event seat via satellite and then made history for being the first satellite winner to win the key Event.

McEvoy did not stop there. In 1986 he won the $1, 000 Razz event for $52, 400. His fourth bracelet was won in 1992 when he won the $1, 500 Limit Omaha event. Over his poker career McEvoy has won over $2 Million in tournaments, cashing in over 114 event and winning at least 12.

McEvoy has done much to help shape poker off the felt as well. He helped to arrange the first non-smoking poker tournament. The tournament drew a strong crowd and he eventually convinced Benny Binion Behnen to really make the WSOP a nonsmoking event. This has helped to increase medical and enjoyment of all players in poker tournaments.

He is perhaps most widely known to some as a poker author. He has either written or co-authored numerous books on poker. A few of the authors he has worked with have been T. J. Cloutier, Brad Daugherty, Don Vine, and Doctor Max Stern. The topics for his publication have included Holdem, Omaha, Stud, and the World Series of Poker.

Many of his books are geared toward beginning poker players, but you will find titles that may offer insight to players of all strengths. Some books also offer a lot of insight on how the world of professional poker used to really be and is good for a historical reference. McEvoy is also a regular columnist for Card Player Magazine.

McEvoy can be seen playing online frequently at. He is a representative of the site and was one of the first big names to endorse the website.

Whether it has been on the felt, behind the scenes, or on the printed page, Tom McEvoy has had a huge effect on poker for 25 years. His writing will help to educate the future generations of poker players plus some of the changes that he helped inspired have helped make poker enjoyable for all.

McEvoy has stated that he would prefer to be World Champion at least one more time. Whether or not that occurs remains to be seen, nonetheless it can be safely assumed that he inspired or helped to develop many a world champion poker player, and for that he can be proud.