European Poker Tour Crowns Youngest Champion - 02-08-08
Author: Marc
February 8 - There is a debate raging in poker circles as to whether or not the young online pro tyros are superior to the grizzled veterans who occupy the celebrity rung on this ladder. They do seem to grow on trees that's for sure and the latest instant champion is Mike McDonald, who is all of eighteen years old. He won the EPT Dortmund Open in Gemany and pocketed the $1.4 million first prize.
McDonald's victory has prompted panic in Canada from associations like the Responsible Gambling Council who fret that McDonald's win will prompt other impressionable youngsters to abandon the good life in places like Waterloo, Ontario and devote their lives to the lottery-longshot of poker tournament glory.
We've never heard of this kid before and there's a good chance we'll never hear of him again, but he does seem to have a levelheaded approach and is quite comfortable backing up the RGC when it comes to their concerns. "For the vast majority of people, staying away from poker is probably best," said McDonald who told newspapers that he had countless hours of practice to draw upon when he became the youngest player ever to win a EuropeanPoker Tour event.
One might wonder where he gathered all this experience? It must have come online since he isn't old enough to play poker anywhere else, and it must all have come over the past few months (yeah, right) since he could only start playing online when he turned 18. The beauty of online poker anonymity - ust ask that vicious human tic "JJProgidy" - is that anyone can play for real money.
