Ken Flaton

Ken Flaton
Nickname(s) Skyhawk
Residence Henderson, Nevada, U.S.
Born June 28, 1940 (1940-06-28)
New York City, New York, U.S.
Died November 7, 2004 (2004-11-08) (aged 64)
Henderson, Nevada, U.S.
World Series of Poker
Bracelet(s) 1
Money finish(es) 38
Highest ITM
Main Event finish
18th, 1997
World Poker Tour
Title(s) None
Final table(s) None
Money finish(es) 2

Ken Flaton (June 28, 1940 – November 7, 2004) 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.[1]

Flaton won a World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet in 1983 in the $1,000 seven-card stud event.[2] 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).[3]

Flaton also won the 1996 United States Poker Championship and competed in the World Poker Tour (WPT).[3]

Both Flaton and his peers have suggested that seven-card stud was his best game.(1)

Flaton died in November 2004(2) at St. Rose Dominican Hospital – 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 tournaments.[1]

His total live tournament winnings were at least $2,500,000.[4] His 38 cashes at the WSOP accounted for $561,025 of his lifetime winnings.[5]

Nickname

Flaton got his nickname, Skyhawk, when Stu Ungar, 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.' "[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Prominent poker player ‘Skyhawk’ Flaton dies at 64". Las Vegas Sun. lasvegassun.com. 2004-11-09. Retrieved 2009-01-29.
  2. Butt, Robert. "$ 1,000 Limit 7 Card Stud - 14th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 1983". TheHendonMob.com. Retrieved 2009-01-29.
  3. 1 2 Butt, Robert. "Ken Flaton - results". TheHendonMob.com. Retrieved 2009-01-29.
  4. Butt, Robert. "Ken Flaton - Stats". TheHendonMob.com. Retrieved 2009-01-29.
  5. World Series of Poker Earnings, worldseriesofpoker.com

External links

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