Ken Flaton
| Ken Flaton | |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Skyhawk |
| Residence | Henderson, Nevada, U.S. |
| Born | June 28, 1940 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Died | November 7, 2004 (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]
Both Flaton and his peers have suggested that seven-card stud was his best game.[4]
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.[5] He is survived by his wife, Crystal, and son, Aaron. Flaton often kept a picture of Aaron with him when playing in poker tournaments.[1]
His total live tournament winnings were at least $2,575,000.[6] His 39 cashes at the WSOP accounted for $568,525 of his lifetime winnings.[7]
Nickname
Flaton got his nickname, "Skyhawk", when fellow professional Stu Ungar, after seeing Flaton spread his arms and then rake in the pot while in a poker tournament, commented that Flaton "swooped down on piles of chips like a 'skyhawk.'"[1]
References
- ^ a b c d "Prominent poker player 'Skyhawk' Flaton dies at 64". Las Vegas Sun. lasvegassun.com. November 9, 2004. Retrieved January 29, 2009.
- ^ Butt, Robert. "$ 1,000 Limit 7 Card Stud - 14th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 1983". TheHendonMob.com. Retrieved January 29, 2009.
- ^ a b Butt, Robert. "Ken Flaton - results". TheHendonMob.com. Retrieved January 29, 2009.
- ^ "Ken Flaton's profile on The Hendon Mob". The Hendon Mob Poker Database. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
- ^ "Science Strikes Again". Extempore. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
- ^ Butt, Robert. "Ken Flaton - Stats". TheHendonMob.com. Retrieved January 29, 2009.
- ^ "KEN 'SKYHAWK' FLATON". World Series of Poker. Retrieved November 30, 2017.