Ken Flaton
Encyclopedia
Ken Flaton was an American
professional poker
player who was born in New York City
, New York
and settled in Henderson
, Nevada
after serving in the US Army.
Flaton won a World Series of Poker
(WSOP) bracelet in 1983
in the $1,000 seven-card stud
event. He also finished in the money of the $10,000 no limit
hold'em main event in 1986
(28th), 1988
(23rd), 1990
(31st), and 1997
(18th).
Flaton also won the 1996 United States Poker Championship
and competed in the World Poker Tour
(WPT).
Both Flaton and his peers have suggested that seven-card stud was his best game.(1)
Flaton died in November 2004(2) at Rose Dominican Hospitals (Siena Campus), aged 64. He died of a heart attack
, although he was suffering from lung cancer
at the time, despite being a non-smoker. (3) He is survived by his wife Crystal and son Aaron. Flaton often kept an up-to-date picture of Aaron with him when playing in poker tournament
s.
His total live tournament winnings were at least $2,500,000. His 38 cashes at the WSOP accounted for $561,025 of his lifetime winnings.
, after seeing Flaton spread his arms and then rake in the pot while in a poker tournament
, commented that Flaton "swooped down on piles of chips like a 'skyhawk.' "
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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 who was born in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and settled in Henderson
Henderson, Nevada
-Demographics:According to the 2000 census, there were 175,381 people, 66,331 households, and 47,095 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,200.8 people per square mile . There were 71,149 housing units at an average density of 892.8 per square mile...
, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
after serving in the US Army.
Flaton won a 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) bracelet in 1983
1983 World Series of Poker
The 1983 World Series of Poker was held May 9th to May 12th, 1983 at Binion's Horseshoe.-Preliminary events:-Main Event:There were 108 entrants to the main event. Each paid $10,000 to enter the tournament. Doyle Brunson fell just short in his attempt to win the main event for a third time when he...
in the $1,000 seven-card stud
Seven-card stud
Seven-card stud is a variant of stud poker. Until the recent increase in popularity of Texas hold 'em, seven-card stud was the most popular poker variant in home games across the United States, and in casinos in the eastern part of the country. Two to eight players is common, though eight may...
event. He also finished in the money of the $10,000 no limit
Betting (poker)
In the game of poker, the play largely centers on the act of betting, and as such, a protocol has been developed to speed up play, lessen confusion, and increase security while playing...
hold'em main event in 1986
1986 World Series of Poker
-Preliminary events:-Main Event:There were 141 entrants to the main event. Each paid $10,000 to enter the tournament.-Final table:-Other High Finishes:NB: This list is restricted to top 30 finishers with an existing Wikipedia entry....
(28th), 1988
1988 World Series of Poker
-Preliminary events:-Final table:-Other High Finishes:NB: This list is restricted to top 30 finishers with an existing Wikipedia entry....
(23rd), 1990
1990 World Series of Poker
-Preliminary events:-Main Event:There were 194 entrants to the main event. Each paid $10,000 to enter the tournament.-Final table:-Other High Finishes:NB: This list is restricted to top 30 finishers with an existing Wikipedia entry....
(31st), and 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...
(18th).
Flaton also won the 1996 United States Poker Championship
The United States Poker Championship
The United States Poker Championship is a major annual stop on the poker tournament tour. This event is held at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, New Jersey...
and competed in 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).
Both Flaton and his peers have suggested that seven-card stud was his best game.(1)
Flaton died in November 2004(2) at Rose Dominican Hospitals (Siena Campus), aged 64. He died of a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
, although he was suffering from lung cancer
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
at the time, despite being a non-smoker. (3) He is survived by his wife Crystal and son Aaron. Flaton often kept an up-to-date picture of Aaron with him when playing in poker tournament
Poker tournament
A poker tournament is a tournament where players compete by playing poker. It can feature as few as two players playing on a single table , and as many as tens of thousands of players playing on thousands of tables...
s.
His total live tournament winnings were at least $2,500,000. His 38 cashes at the WSOP accounted for $561,025 of his lifetime winnings.
Nickname
Flaton got his nickname, Skyhawk, when Stu UngarStu 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....
, after seeing Flaton spread his arms and then rake in the pot while in a poker tournament
Poker tournament
A poker tournament is a tournament where players compete by playing poker. It can feature as few as two players playing on a single table , and as many as tens of thousands of players playing on thousands of tables...
, commented that Flaton "swooped down on piles of chips like a 'skyhawk.' "