“Poker Table” (CC BY 2.0) by slgckgc
Card games attract all types of players and there is a definite celebrity element to different options. A host of Hollywood film stars have taken to the tables and many have made a name for themselves and could well have enjoyed a very different career.
Sportsmen and women are also attracted to the games. Many of those players come from the footballing world but who has been the most notorious and most successful?
Cristiano Ronaldo
On the football pitch itself, the names don’t get any bigger than that of Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese international has just re-signed for his former club Manchester United after spells away at Real Madrid and Juventus.
When he’s not at the poker table, CR7 will be aiming to drive his club to Premier League success and the sportsbooks at asiabet.org are listing Manchester United among the favourites for the title.
Fittingly, asiabet.org also have a casino section with links to poker and baccarat providers. Any readers looking to emulate these stars can choose from a huge range of card games including different versions of blackjack.
The affiliated casinos are also accepting new registrations and many of them have generous welcome packages in place. A range of funding options and efficient customer service facilities are also available.
As for Cristiano Ronaldo, his success on the poker tables hasn’t quite matched his exploits on the football field but he’s a serious competitor who loves the game.
Teddy Sheringham
Another man who enjoyed a stint with Manchester United, England international Teddy Sheringham also played for Millwall, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United in a long professional career.
On the soccer field, he won a historic ‘treble’ with Manchester United in 1999 while his career earnings in poker have topped an impressive $300,000 USD. His best return came at the World Series of Poker in 2016 when Sheringham was placed 14th and took home a $60,000 prize.
Gerard Pique
The Spanish international defender was one of the regulars in a Barcelona side that landed a number of trophies, both at home and in Europe. Gerard Pique was also a regular in a Spanish national team that became one of the best nations in the World Cup and European Championships.
Pique was a great competitor on the card table too and he became a regular on the European Poker Tour at the start of the 2010s. He has claimed a top prize of $56,000 on the EPT and has also performed well at the World Series of Poker.
Neymar Jr
Another former Barcelona star who is currently playing in France with Paris St-Germain, Neymar Jr is one of the more flamboyant players on the poker circuit. PSG made the Brazilian the most expensive player ever when they paid out a colossal 222 million Euro fee to acquire his services from Barca.
On the tables, his highest return to date is a relatively modest $18,000. However, like all the stars who are still playing, it’s likely that his poker earnings would be significantly greater if he were to concentrate on the game.
Tony Cascarino
The next name on the list proves what can be achieved when a footballer concentrates on the poker table. Tony Cascarino was once a team mate of Teddy Sheringham’s at Millwall and he even named his son after his friend and colleague.
When he retired from playing in 2007, he began to focus on poker while also developing a broadcasting career. Poker proved to be the more lucrative option of the two as the former Chelsea striker accumulated more than $500,000 in earnings.
Among his highlights was a $30,000 prize purse at a European Poker Tour event in London.
Vikash Dhorasoo
He may not be the biggest name on this list in footballing terms but former Lyon player Vikash Dhorasoo made a bigger impact on the poker tables than most.
In 2010, he landed two wins on the European Poker Tour and quickly took his earnings close to the $200,000 mark. Opponents may be forgiven for not realising that they have a former footballer at the opposite end of the table but Dhorasoo is certainly an unforgettable face in the poker fraternity.
