Editorial: Boris Becker - Poker Player

Most sports fans are familiar with former pro tennis player Boris Becker. The tall, strong German earned the nickname "Boom Boom" for his devastating serves. Although he retired from tennis in 2000, his competitive fire has not died down in the least. He has moved that competitive drive from the green grass of the Wimbledon tennis tournament to the green felt of the European poker tournament circuit.

Boris Becker-Poker Player: Early Life

Boris Franz Becker was born on 22 November 1967 in the small town of Leimen, West Germany. His father was an architect who, among his other projects, designed the tennis center in his hometown. Becker learned the game at that facility as a child, taking lessons and playing in almost every junior tennis tournament offered there. At that point, he was well on his way to becoming a dominant pro tennis player in his teens.

Early Tennis Career

Becker became a pro tennis player at the age of sixteen, winning his first doubles match as a pro in Munich. He dominated much of the competition in West Germany (before East and West Germany were reunified) and began to play in various major tennis tournaments around Europe. In June 1985, he won the Queen's Club tournament in London, his first major singles tennis title.

Tennis Champion

Two weeks later, he became the first unseeded male player, as well as the first German, to win the men's singles title at Wimbledon. At that time, he was also the youngest male player to ever win that prestigious tennis tournament, five months shy of his eighteenth birthday. He won the same title again the following year.

By the end of his career, he won Wimbledon three times ('85, '86, '89), the Australian Open twice ('91, '96) and the US Open once ('89). In January 1991, he was the number-one ranked player in the world.

Move to Poker

For many pro athletes, the need to find another competitive outlet after their playing careers are over can be frustrating. For Becker, he found that outlet in poker. He would play with other pro tennis players during match breaks and rain delays, finding that he enjoyed the mental as

pect of the competition. He also followed in the footsteps of another former pro tennis player who turned into a pro poker player, World Poker Tour commentator Vince Van Patten.

Live Tournaments

Becker began playing in live poker tournaments throughout the casinos of Europe soon after he retired from competitive tennis. Even sitting at the table, his imposing physical presence could intimidate opponents into laying down a winning hand. His best career finish in a live poker tournament came in Monte Carlo at a EUR500 buy-in tournament, where he finished seventh out of over two hundred fifty entrants.

Poker Site Endorsement

Becker cemented his status as a poker star when he signed an endorsement contract with the online poker site PokerStars.net. He often plays online poker tournaments and cash games on the site, along with other poker star players such as Chris Moneymaker, Greg Raymer, Joe Hachem and Daniel Negreanu. Like many other pro poker players, Becker wears a patch with the site's logo when he plays in major poker tournaments around the world.

New Career?

While Becker's tournament results may not stack up against many pro poker players, his experience on the tennis courts may give him the edge on the green felt minefield of tournament play. Also, like so many young poker star players today, he is constantly improving his game by playing online poker. Whether he will make a new career as a pro poker player or strictly play recreationally, only time will tell.

Conclusion

As a pro tennis player, Boris Becker knew how to win at an early age. As a pro poker player, he has not yet achieved the same level of success. However, most observers of the game agree that, if he were to set his mind to the task, "Boom Boom" could be an "explosive" force on the poker tournament circuit for years to come.