By Dave Lukow
Hoyt Corkins has the 2019 World Series of Poker on his schedule.
The Alabama native, who owns a pair of WSOP bracelets, has been taking a lighter approach the last several years. He’s limiting time spent at the poker table and making an effort to travel and to enjoy what the world has to offer.
“I’m retiring in Asia”, he said. “I love the small islands of the Philippines. I’ve been to Cambodia. I’ve been to Malaysia. I’m thinking about going to Panama and South America this year.”
“My last really full season was like 2012,” Corkins said. “I’ve been playing a lax schedule. I play the WSOP. I’ve cut my buy-ins by 90 percent or more.”
Whether or not he ever plays poker again, Corkins has cemented his place in the game’s history. Overall, he’s made more than $6 million via tournaments, including $1,610,934 at the World Series. Of his 93 cashes, 48 have come at the WSOP.
“Playing the Main Event is a very hard thing to do,” Corkins said. “A 10-hour day’s a long day. I play more for enjoyment now. It’s less for work.”
There’s no question Corkins has worked hard to get where is. He began paying his poker dues at an age many people are thinking about class schedules and the like.
“I started playing right out of high school,” he said. “I went to Vegas when I was 19. There weren’t that many places to play. There was no Atlantic City. Poker wasn’t really popular.”
Additionally, casinos weren’t as relentless when it came to determining who played. “The legal age to gamble was 21, but nobody said anything,” Corkins said.
Today, with so many players honing their games on the Internet, the poker world has changed dramatically. Younger standouts come to tournaments after logging countless hours – and having seen a considerable number of scenarios – on the computer.
“I loved the old way of doing it, maybe it’s because I was younger then,” Corkins said. “I had more energy. I was always the youngest guy at the table – until I was like 43. Within five years, I was the oldest.”
“You have to want it.” he said. “Winning takes a lot of dedication. Now, these guys make it the center of their lives.”
In terms of the key to his own success, Corkins was happy to provide insight.
“I think I’m a good reader of people,” he said. “If somebody picks up two aces, I know they’ve got two aces.”
Prior to the WSOP, Corkins will play at the 2019 Emerald Coast Spring Classic, taking place at Ebro Greyhound Park & Poker Room from April 3-14. The Main Event of the series – with a buy- in of $300 – starts Wednesday, April 10.
“Ebro was one of the first places I played,” Corkins said. “It was always a fun thing to go to Ebro from Alabama.”
Ebro is located 15 minutes from Panama City Beach. This will be the poker room’s first major event since Hurricane Michael slammed the Florida Panhandle six months ago on October 10th, 2018.
