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Ken Flaton

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Ken Flaton
Nickname(s)Skyhawk
ResidenceHenderson, Nevada, U.S.
BornJune 28, 1940 (1940-06-28)
New York City, New York, U.S.
DiedNovember 7, 2004 (2004-11-08) (aged 64)
Henderson, Nevada, U.S.
World Series of Poker
Bracelet(s)1
Money finish(es)39
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 won the first United States Poker Championship in 1996 and competed in the World Poker Tour (WPT).[3]

Flaton died in November 2004 at St. Rose Dominican Hospital – Siena Campus, aged 64.[1] He died of a heart attack, although he was suffering from lung cancer at the time, despite being a non-smoker.[4]

His total live tournament winnings were at least $2,575,000.[3] His 39 cashes at the WSOP accounted for $568,525 of his lifetime winnings.[5]

Nickname

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Flaton got his nickname, "Skyhawk", when fellow professional 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

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  1. ^ a b c "Prominent poker player 'Skyhawk' Flaton dies at 64". Las Vegas Sun. November 9, 2004. Retrieved January 29, 2009.
  2. ^ "14th World Series of Poker - WSOP 1983, Limit 7 Card Stud". The Hendon Mob. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c "Ken Flaton's profile on The Hendon Mob". The Hendon Mob Poker Database. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  4. ^ Phillips, Paul. "Science Strikes Again". Extempore. Archived from the original on April 21, 2017. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
  5. ^ "Ken Flaton". WSOP.com. Retrieved April 6, 2024.
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