Los Angeles, CA (September 6, 2020) – The World Poker Tour® is saddened to announce today that its longtime commentator and namesake of the WPT® Champions Cup, Mike Sexton, passed away.
Adam Pliska, CEO of the World Poker Tour, said, “It is with great sorrow that I announce the passing of my friend and the greatest ambassador in poker, Mike Sexton. Mike served as a WPT commentator for 15 seasons and spent a lifetime growing the game of poker around the globe. His glowing presence resonated with players and fans of poker alike, who will all miss him onscreen and at the table. Mike’s legacy will forever be a part of poker’s history. The WPT Family joins the entire poker community in sending our thoughts and deepest condolences to the Sexton family, including his young son Ty.”
Mike Sexton, age 72, served as a WPT commentator starting in Season I of the World Poker Tour in 2002, which debuted at the WPT Five Diamond World Poker Classic event in Las Vegas. Sexton won his WPT title in 2016 at the Season XV WPT Montreal event at Playground Poker Club at his fourth career WPT final table.
Sexton raised the profile of the game of poker for many years both before and after joining the World Poker Tour, leading him to be called the “ambassador of poker.” The Poker Hall of Fame called Sexton’s name in 2008 as their 39th inductee for both his accomplishments on the felt and his lifetime of stewardship of the game.
In 2017, Sexton was named a recipient of the WPT Honors, the WPT’s highest distinction awarded to the most vibrant and vital members of the poker industry, in celebration and appreciation of his exceptional contributions to the World Poker Tour and the poker community as a whole.
Sexton is survived by his son Ty. As a devoted father, Sexton cheered Ty at his baseball games and proudly shared photos at the table of Ty and their treasured moments together.
This year, Sexton’s contributions to the World Poker Tour were cemented in WPT lore by naming the coveted WPT Champions Cup as the Mike Sexton WPT Champions Cup.
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About World Poker Tour
World Poker Tour (WPT) is the premier name in internationally televised gaming and entertainment with brand presence in land-based tournaments, television, online, and mobile. Leading innovation in the sport of poker since 2002, WPT ignited the global poker boom with the creation of a unique television show based on a series of high-stakes poker tournaments. WPT has broadcast globally in more than 150 countries and territories, and is currently producing its 18th season, which airs on FOX Sports Regional Networks in the United States. Season XVIII of WPT is sponsored by ClubWPT.com. ClubWPT.com is a unique online membership site that offers inside access to the WPT, as well as a sweepstakes-based poker club available in 43 states and territories across the United States, Australia, Canada, France and the United Kingdom. WPT also participates in strategic brand license, partnership, and sponsorship opportunities. For more information, go to WPT.com. WPT Enterprises Inc. is a subsidiary of Allied Esports Entertainment, Inc.
About Allied Esports Entertainment
Allied Esports Entertainment (NASDAQ: AESE) is a global esports entertainment venture dedicated to providing transformative live experiences, multiplatform content and interactive services to audiences worldwide through its strategic fusion of two powerful entertainment brands: Allied Esports and the World Poker Tour (WPT). Allied Esports Entertainment was created in August 2019 when Black Ridge Acquisition Corp. completed its business combination with Allied Esports and WPT Enterprises.
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