David Minto “The Colonel“

Birthplace
Corpus Christi, TX

Hometown
Alamogordo, NM

Birthday
March 23

Total Winnings
$1,000,000

David Minto learned how to play poker from his mother, an avid card player. For most of David's life, poker was a hobby, something to occupy his time on weekends and during long assignments throughout his decorated career in the United States Air Force. When he finally retired from the service as a Lieutenant Colonel, there were still goals to pursue, cards to be played, and work to do. Not your typical retirement scenario.

Taking work as an engineer for the military, David performed tests on everything from vehicles to warheads. But there was something else that he wanted to do " play more poker. He decided to take advantage of poker's popularity and enter one of the tournaments, knowing that his military background of discipline and people skills might be of use. Where better to do that than the World Poker Tour?

"The Colonel" took his chance on the PartyPoker Million IV cruise and played in the WPT's $10,000 buy-in main event. He worked steadily through a field of top notch players and found himself at the final table. In the end, he was involved in heads-up action against young poker pro Michael Gracz and took second place. Nevertheless, his consolation prize was $1 million for the runner-up position, and he was grateful for the extra retirement funds but more so for the opportunity to put his life-long hobby to the test and prove his abilities to the world.