Poker player

Michael Skender

Germany

German poker player, ranked 12317th in the world, with career total prize money over $270,000. Known for consistent performance in multiple events, solid fundamentals and calm decision-making.

Career earnings: $ 277,14011 views

Early Basketball Career

Michael Skender was born on September 19, 1978. Standing at 2.02 meters, he played forward/center. His basketball career began in the German second division, with stints at TSV Ansbach, BG Karlsruhe (2000-2001), BG Ludwigsburg (2001-2002, helping the team earn promotion to the Bundesliga), 2BA Dragons Rhöndorf (2002-2003, averaging 15.8 points and 6.7 rebounds), TuS Jena (2003-2004), and 1. FC Kaiserslautern (2004-2009, later renamed Saar-Pfalz Braves). In February 2015, years after retiring, he made a brief comeback, playing two regional league games for 1. FC Kaiserslautern.

Transition to Poker

After leaving professional basketball, Skender moved into the poker world and quickly made a name for himself in tournaments. Known for his solid fundamentals and calm decision-making, he excels at steadily advancing in major events.

Major Results

2010 WSOP Main Event

The highlight of Skender's career came in the 2010 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event. He emerged from a field of 7,319 entrants and was tied with Evan Lamprea for the chip lead (3.5 million chips) at the end of Day 5. He eventually finished 31st for $255,242, which remains his only WSOP cash.

EPT Vienna

In October 2010, Skender played the PokerStars.net European Poker Tour (EPT) Vienna Main Event. According to tournament reports, in one hand he opened for a raise, faced a 3-bet from an opponent, re-raised to 17,600, and then called an all-in with A♣Q♥. However, his opponent held a better hand, and the community cards did not help him, costing him most of his stack. The event was eventually won by Michael Eiler.

Personal Life and Anecdotes

During his basketball years, Skender also worked as a coach. After retiring, he focused on poker. He has attracted attention for his dual background in basketball and poker, and is seen as a prime example of a multi-sport transition.

Summary

Michael Skender is one of the few professional basketball players who successfully transitioned to poker. Through steady play and a deep WSOP Main Event run, he earned recognition in the poker community. Although he has not achieved another major breakthrough since, his performance in 2010 remains noteworthy.

(Based on search materials: WSOP.com archives, PokerNews EPT reports, basketball career sources, etc.)

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