Gabe Kaplan - Poker

Poker

Kaplan became involved in financial markets and poker during his acting career. He made his first appearance at the World Series of Poker in 1978. In 1980, Kaplan was considered one of poker's elite as he won the main event at Amarillo Slim's Super Bowl of Poker (SBOP) and was presented with "a loving cup that was so enormous it made the gaudy gold bracelets given to the winners at the World Series of Poker look understated." Over the next five years his reputation was solidified as he made the final table at the Super Bowl's main event two more times and finished in sixth place at the WSOP main event in 1980. He made numerous other SBOP and WSOP final tables.

In July 2004, he finished third in a World Poker Tour no-limit Texas hold 'em event, earning more than $250,000. He also finished second in the 2005 World Series of Poker $5000 Limit Hold 'Em event, winning $222,515. Kaplan was joint TV commentator for the 1997 and 2002 WSOP events. In 2007, Kaplan won on NBC's Poker After Dark in the episode "Queens and Kings" after defeating Kristy Gazes heads-up and outlasting Howard Lederer, Ali Nejad, Vanessa Rousso and Annie Duke.

In the 2007 World Series of Poker Kaplan finished in ninth place in the $50,000 World Championship H.O.R.S.E event, winning $131,424; Freddy Deeb eventually won the event after defeating Bruno Fitoussi in heads-up play.

As of 2009, Kaplan's total live tournament winnings exceeded $1,300,000. His ten cashes at the WSOP account for $507,659 of those winnings.

Kaplan won again on Poker After Dark during "Cowboys" week that first aired in February 2008 against Chris Ferguson, Andy Bloch, Chau Giang, Hoyt Corkins and Doyle Brunson.

Gabe Kaplan's Poker After Dark win in the first week of the 2010 season (the "Commentators III" episode), was the greatest comeback in the show's history.