Mel Judah
Encyclopedia
Mel Judah is an Australia
n professional poker
player, also known as "The Silver Fox" (a nickname he shares with fellow poker player Peter Costa
). He learned poker at the age of 14 by watching his father play 5-card draw.
He has had several noticeable finishes in the World Series of Poker
(WSOP) and the World Poker Tour
(WPT). He won his first World Series of Poker bracelet in the 1989
in the $1,500 Seven Card Stud event. Judah won his second bracelet at the 1997
in $5,000 Seven Card Stud event, defeating Vasilis Lazarou
who has also won two WSOP bracelets in seven card stud tournaments.
He was also at the final table of the 1997 World Series of Poker main event, won by Stu Ungar
, eventually coming in third place, and earning $371,000.
Judah also claimed the 2003 Legends of Poker title on the World Poker Tour
, winning $579,375. He defeated a strong final table that included professional poker players Phil Laak
, Farzad Bonyadi
, Chip Jett
, T.J. Cloutier, and Paul Phillips
whom he defeated in heads-up play to win the tournament.
He qualified for the final table of the 2006 Poker Million
, finishing in fourth place. In January 2009, Judah won the $1,100 Omaha Hi-Lo tournament at the Aussie Millions in Melbourne Australia. In recollection of the respect Judah had generated within the game, he was asked to direct the new European Poker Masters
tour in September 2006, Europe's first ever independent poker tour that was produced by the team behind The Poker Channel
. Judah worked as a hairdresser for several years, which he believes has allowed him to understand players' psychology
better. He now lives in London
, England
.
As of 2009, his total live tournament winnings exceed $3,100,000. His 36 cashes at the WSOP account for $1,299,630 of those winnings.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n professional poker
Poker
Poker is a family of card games that share betting rules and usually hand rankings. Poker games differ in how the cards are dealt, how hands may be formed, whether the high or low hand wins the pot in a showdown , limits on bet sizes, and how many rounds of betting are allowed.In most modern poker...
player, also known as "The Silver Fox" (a nickname he shares with fellow poker player Peter Costa
Peter Costa
Peter Costa to Greek Cypriot parents is a British professional poker player based in Las Vegas, Nevada.He is most well known as the winner of the sixth series of the popular Late Night Poker television series during his time living in the United Kingdom, where he defeated Austria's Jin Cai Lin in...
). He learned poker at the age of 14 by watching his father play 5-card draw.
He has had several noticeable finishes in the World Series of Poker
World Series of Poker
The World Series of Poker is a world-renowned series of poker tournaments held annually in Las Vegas and, since 2005, sponsored by Harrah's Entertainment...
(WSOP) and the World Poker Tour
World Poker Tour
The World Poker Tour is a series of international poker tournaments and associated television series broadcasting the final table of each tournament. It was started in the United States by attorney/television producer Steven Lipscomb, who served as CEO of WPT Enterprises , the firm that...
(WPT). He won his first World Series of Poker bracelet in the 1989
1989 World Series of Poker
The 1989 World Series of Poker was held at Binion's Horseshoe. The 1989 Main Event was won by 24-year-old Phil Hellmuth, defeating defending champion Johnny Chan, and also breaking the record for the youngest player to win the WSOP Main Event . Had Johnny Chan won, he would have tied Johnny...
in the $1,500 Seven Card Stud event. Judah won his second bracelet at the 1997
1997 World Series of Poker
The 1997 World Series of Poker was held at Binion's Horseshoe. Most notably, it was the only WSOP where the final table of the main event took place outdoors, at the Fremont Street Experience, just outside of Binions...
in $5,000 Seven Card Stud event, defeating Vasilis Lazarou
Vasilis Lazarou
Vasilis Lazarou is a Greek-American professional poker player who has won two bracelets at the World Series of Poker. He is mainly a seven card stud player but has also cashed in tournaments in other poker games as well...
who has also won two WSOP bracelets in seven card stud tournaments.
He was also at the final table of the 1997 World Series of Poker main event, won by Stu Ungar
Stu Ungar
Stuart Errol "Stu" Ungar was a professional poker and gin rummy player, widely regarded to have been the greatest Texas hold 'em and gin rummy player of all time....
, eventually coming in third place, and earning $371,000.
Judah also claimed the 2003 Legends of Poker title on the World Poker Tour
World Poker Tour
The World Poker Tour is a series of international poker tournaments and associated television series broadcasting the final table of each tournament. It was started in the United States by attorney/television producer Steven Lipscomb, who served as CEO of WPT Enterprises , the firm that...
, winning $579,375. He defeated a strong final table that included professional poker players Phil Laak
Phil Laak
Philip "Phil" C. Laak is a professional poker player, now residing in Los Angeles, California. Laak holds a World Poker Tour title, a World Series of Poker bracelet and has appeared on numerous nationally-aired television shows.-Early life:...
, Farzad Bonyadi
Farzad Bonyadi
Farzad "Freddy" Bonyadi is an Iranian professional poker player based in Aliso Viejo, California, who has won 3 World Series of Poker bracelets....
, Chip Jett
Chip Jett
Charles McRae "Chip" Jett is an American professional poker player from Las Vegas, Nevada. He is one of the most popular players on the World Poker Tour....
, T.J. Cloutier, and Paul Phillips
Paul Phillips (poker player)
Paul Phillips is an American entrepreneur and poker player.-Programming:Phillips wrote the Boa web server while attending the University of California, San Diego, but no longer maintains it...
whom he defeated in heads-up play to win the tournament.
He qualified for the final table of the 2006 Poker Million
Poker Million
The Poker Million has been a televised European poker tournament since its inception in November 2000. The final debuted to 30 million viewers and has since remained popular. It was created by UK gaming outfit Ladbrokes with the help of sports promotion firm Matchroom Sport...
, finishing in fourth place. In January 2009, Judah won the $1,100 Omaha Hi-Lo tournament at the Aussie Millions in Melbourne Australia. In recollection of the respect Judah had generated within the game, he was asked to direct the new European Poker Masters
The Poker Channel
The Poker Channel is a dedicated gaming TV network and broadcasts to over 30 million TV homes in 30 countries.The Channel is typically carried in the basic packages of cable and satellite operators in Europe and classified as a sport or entertainment channel in electronic programme guides...
tour in September 2006, Europe's first ever independent poker tour that was produced by the team behind The Poker Channel
The Poker Channel
The Poker Channel is a dedicated gaming TV network and broadcasts to over 30 million TV homes in 30 countries.The Channel is typically carried in the basic packages of cable and satellite operators in Europe and classified as a sport or entertainment channel in electronic programme guides...
. Judah worked as a hairdresser for several years, which he believes has allowed him to understand players' psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
better. He now lives in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
As of 2009, his total live tournament winnings exceed $3,100,000. His 36 cashes at the WSOP account for $1,299,630 of those winnings.
World Series of Poker bracelets
| Year | Tournament | Prize (US$) |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 1989 World Series of Poker The 1989 World Series of Poker was held at Binion's Horseshoe. The 1989 Main Event was won by 24-year-old Phil Hellmuth, defeating defending champion Johnny Chan, and also breaking the record for the youngest player to win the WSOP Main Event . Had Johnny Chan won, he would have tied Johnny... |
$1,500 Seven-Card Stud | $130,800 |
| 1997 1997 World Series of Poker The 1997 World Series of Poker was held at Binion's Horseshoe. Most notably, it was the only WSOP where the final table of the main event took place outdoors, at the Fremont Street Experience, just outside of Binions... |
$5,000 Seven-Card Stud | $176,000 |