Femi Fashakin’s incredible 2019 World Series of Poker bracelet win is still regarded as one of the greatest feats ever in the card game. The Nigerian paid an entry fee of a mere $500 and ended up turning that into more than $1 million after five days of battling at the felt. Along with going down in the history books of the WSOP, the card shark has also been an inspiration for other Nigerians who want to hit the big time at the tables.
Fashakin’s 2019 Win
The WSOP used to be mainly made up of American players. Thanks to the global spread of gambling games, however, people from other countries like Nigeria have just as much chance of becoming experts at the felt as well. Nowadays, live casino games act as an excellent way to introduce players to betting systems. Players can take part in all sorts of offerings, from Football Card Showdown Live, to Dead or Alive: Saloon. From there, a lot of people move into poker, as it offers the perfect harmony of luck and skill.
The gambling industry has grown in Nigeria over the last decade as the internet has spread around the country. Aside from having easy access to the games, though, players here need inspiring stories to encourage them to become masters at games like poker. Although it was five years ago, Fashakin’s 2019 win still stands as one of the greatest success stories from the country and a way to influence others to get into poker.
Fashakin is what you’d refer to as a member of the old-school poker crowd in the modern age, as he got into the game before the live streaming boom. His love for the game developed back in 2010, playing with friends in live cash games. He used his chess experience to bring methodical strategy to his play, and then honed his craft by practicing online.
For anyone looking to replicate Fashakin’s journey, it will take a lot of practice and dedication. The Nigerian took part in as many tournaments as he could find, getting used to how different people played the game. This allowed him to develop the skills necessary to take on some of the world’s best in a five-day tournament in Las Vegas at the 2019 WSOP. That event was the Big 50, a special tournament with a $5 million prize pool to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the WSOP.
Fashakin had to display incredible bravery and stamina to hold his own against other renowned names on the poker scene, but he managed to outwit them all and back a prize of $1.147 million. That still stands as one of the most profitable poker wins of all time, with excessive returns on his $500 buy-in. It shows that there’s the potential to enjoy great success at the felt, if you’re dedicated enough.
What is the World Series of Poker?
The WSOP is the dream setting for anyone who’s got a passion for poker. It has taken place every year in Las Vegas since the inaugural event of 1970, with more participants showing up each time. Prior to the poker boom of the early 2000s, the numbers grew gradually each year, going from seven Main Event entrants in 1970 to 631 in 2002.
One of the biggest landmarks in the history of the competition was when the aptly-named Chris Moneymaker bested 838 other entrants and won $2.5 million in 2003. What made this even more impressive was the fact that Moneymaker has won his ticket to the tournament via a $39 online satellite game. This was the first time an everyday poker player had beaten the established professionals, and he inspired other amateurs to enter and try their luck as well. This was a catalyst for the poker boom, and the next year the number of participants in the main tournament shot up to 2576.
Fashakin may have been inspired to attend the WSOP thanks to the sheer number of foreign players that have found success there over the years. There have been various Main Event winners from different countries, including the Lebanese-Australian Joe Hachem in 2005, the German Pius Heinz in 2011, and Sweden's Martin Jacobson in 2014.
The WSOP is most famous for the Main Event, which offers anyone the chance to enter for $10,000. This competition attracts expert players, celebrities, and amateurs from all over the world, and is the ultimate poker tournament. However, there are plenty of other tournaments and cash games occurring over the highly prestigious card playing event. It occurs over several days every year, and attracts spectators as well as players.
What Happened Afterwards?
Fashakin is currently ranked 1861st in the All Time Money List, and hasn’t managed to top his impressive 2019 win. However, the Lagos-born player is still active in the poker scene. His most recent event was the $3000 No Limit Hold’em tournament at the 55th WSOP in June this year. He placed 110th and picked up a prize of $7,146.
Fashakin’s greatest win since 2019 was in May, when he placed 19th in the $700 + 300 No Limit Hold’em – Mystery Millions WSOP event. He won $36,550 for that competition. It’s clear that the Nigerian player has used his winnings to invest in other poker tournaments, and he’s bringing in a steady stream of winnings from these.
Fashakin also has business interests in tech, putting his winnings to good use in an investment sense. The Nigerian now resides in the USA, and has interests in AI. Indeed, according to his LinkedIn profile, he is the co-founder and CTO of ZeroTrusted.ai.
Fashakin’s story is an inspiration to other Nigerians, highlighting how anything is possible if you show enough determination and dedication. Luckily, it’s easier than ever to get into casino games and master them.
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