Kili Madrid to play in World Series of Poker

Article Photos

When Kili Madrid describes how he's prepared for the World Series of Poker, his path sounds like one taken by quite a few others.

''I was a poker dealer for about six months and after that I just started playing, and I started having a little bit of success,'' he said.

Madrid, however, has some unusual experience that he says might help him as well. The 1996 Baldwin High School graduate is a one-time professional boxer.

''There's a lot that really is the same,'' the 30-year-old said. ''In boxing, you've got to read what a guy's going to do after a punch. In poker, you have to read what move a guy's going to make when he has a premium hand, and what he's going to do when he's bluffing.''

Madrid will put that knowledge to the test today in Las Vegas at the Rio Hotel & Casino after making his $10,000 buy-in for the no-limit Texas hold 'em championship.

The World Series allows players to pick one of four first days, starting today. If Madrid avoids elimination, he would next play on Tuesday. After an off day July 9, play is scheduled for July 10-15 to establish the final table, and the last nine players will compete Nov. 7-10.

''I'm trying to be realistic,'' said Madrid, who on Thursday was driving from his home in Los Angeles to Las Vegas. ''There might be 10,000 people playing, and first place might be $12 million. To make it into the money, you've got to make the top 10 percent.''

Last year, Peter Eastgate finished first out of a field of 6,844 entrants and earned $9,152,416.

During his boxing days, Madrid won all eight of his professional fights, but he then got out of the sport, citing what he described Thursday as ''managerial problems.''

Madrid, who has also lived in Las Vegas, moved to Los Angeles last year. Earlier, he worked as a poker dealer at the Seminole Casino in Hollywood, Fla. --- also the site for one of his fights, a unanimous decision against Joseph Benjamin in April 2005.

Madrid said opponents who know he used to box expect an approach at the table that's different from the one he actually takes.

''People view me as an aggressive player, but I'm actually pretty tight,'' he said.

He said his boxing experience provides an advantage at the poker table in one other way, too.

''These can be 12-hour days,'' he said. ''To be at your best mentally, you've got to be physically at your best.

''I'm in OK shape --- nowhere near where I was when I was boxing. I'm definitely above average for poker players, though.''

Brad Sherman is at sports@mauinews.com