Poker Legend Mike Sexton Battling Cancer, Poker Industry Prays For His Speedy Recovery

One of the poker industry`s true visionaries, the Hall of Famer and partypoker chairman, Mike Sexton (cover image), is reportedly terminally ill. The 72-year-old is battling prostate cancer and is currently receiving hospice care at his Las Vegas home.

Sexton is widely acknowledged as a true ambassador for poker and has not only enjoyed massive success as a poker player but has played an instrumental role in the growth of the game.

For the millions of poker fans worldwide, Sexton is best known as the co-host of the World Poker Tour alongside his longtime colleague Vince Van Patten. Sexton surely knew what we talking about while in the commentary booth, given that he has won titles at the WPT, WSOP, and the Tournament of Champions. Sexton is also attributed to helping partypoker launch and ultimately growing it to become the #1 site globally. In 2009, Sexton created the non-profit charitable organization PokerGives.org along with Johnson, Jan Fisher, and Lisa Tenner.

Sexton, a die-hard Ohio State Buckeye fan, has kept away from social media since the past fortnight. The news of his ill health has sent shockers across the poker community. Many players and Sexton’s industry associates like Rob Yong have come out on social media wishing him a speedy recovery while others are rooting for his “one time,” hoping that he pulls through the grave health crisis.

Poker Community React

Sexton was reported to be suffering from an undisclosed ailment, but partypoker supremo Rob Yong was among the first to hint that Sexton’s health had taken a turn for the worse. Yong tweeted that he had spoken to Sexton, who was in good spirits despite his health.

I spoke to Mike Sexton tonight.He told me he read all well wishes from everyone & he was in remarkably good spirits. I keep remembering when me,Devilfish, Trumper & Mike missed a plane & Devil swearing at Mike who had stopped every 2 mins to talk to fans who recognised him 😂 pic.twitter.com/z6AbpaHodF

— Rob Yong (@rob_yong_) September 2, 2020

Many from the poker community reacted to Yong’s tweet, Oliver Busquet, among them, “Know that you are in our thoughts, prayers and hearts. We love you Mike.”

Hey Mike, I just want to say how much I have always respected and admired you. You are such a warm hearted, sincere and caring person. You mean the world to the poker community that you have done so much for. Know that you are in our thoughts, prayers and hearts. We love you Mike

— Olivier Busquet (@olivierbusquet) September 3, 2020

Poker player and journalist Linda Johnson also came out with a tweet, which Sexton authorized himself. Johnson confirmed that Sexton was suffering from prostate cancer and began in-home hospice a month back.

Mike Sexton is poker’s greatest ambassadors. He authorized this tweet. He has only wanted to deliver positive messages so he kept his health problems private. Mike has been battling prostate cancer that has recently spread to other organs. He began in-home hospice a month ago.

— Linda Johnson (@FirstLadyPoker) September 1, 2020

In response to Johnson’s tweet, Mike O’ Malley shared a long tweet on Sexton’s role in the growth of online poker and the success of partypoker.

I have 100 stories about @mike_partypoker, but this one is probably the most important to his legacy and what he did for online poker… pic.twitter.com/oUrldGeiW9

— Mike O'Malley (@rzitup) September 2, 2020

Jonathan Little and Kara Scott were among those who replied to Johnson’s tweet, talking about how he had influenced and inspired them.

Thanks for letting us know.
If at all possible, I would love to talk with Mike one more time if he would like to speak with me. I texted him but I am not sure he has access to his phone. He inspired me and influenced my life in so many ways. I love him.

— Jonathan Little (@JonathanLittle) September 2, 2020

Mike has been a huge influence in my career and life and I learned how to do my job by working with him, being friends with him and watching him. This is such hard news. I hope he knows how much we all care & I hope you’re doing okay, Linda. I know this must be brutal for you 💛

— Kara Scott (@KaraOTR) September 2, 2020

Later, Johnson, who is also a fellow Hall of Fame member and a WPT Boot Camp Instructor, tweeted that she and Jan Fisher had read the tweets to Sexton, and he thanked everyone for their love and support.

Jan Fisher and I read your tweets to Mike Sexton today and he asked me to thank you all so much for your love and support. He is too tired to personally answer emails, texts, and tweets but he wants you to know he is touched by them. Mike has requested privacy at this rough time.

— Linda Johnson (@FirstLadyPoker) September 2, 2020

An Accomplished Player

A former gymnast and U.S. Army paratrooper, Sexton, boasts over $6.7 Million in live tournament winnings. He was inducted in the Poker Hall of Fame in 2009.

One of the poker old-timers, Sexton’s record of live cashes dates back to 1981. He won his first and to date only bracelet in 1989, in Event #11: $1,500 Limit Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo for $104,400. Over a tally of 73 WSOP cashes, Sexton has come close to winning a second bracelet on multiple occasions but somehow always had to settle for a final table finish.

In June 2006, Sexton won the third annual WSOP Tournament of Champions. In the tournament, Sexton’s heads-up opponent was GGPoker Ambassador Daniel Negreanu, whom he defeated to win the top prize of $1 Million.

Sexton added a WPT title to his resume at the WPT Montreal Main Event in 2016 that he won for CAD 425,000 ($317,896).

His last recorded live score was in December 2019, a 40th place finish at The Wynn Winter Classic $600 NLHE for $1,990.

An Industry Veteran – WPT Stint & partypoker Years

Mike Sexton has played a significant role in growing poker on a global level over the past decades.

Growing partypoker

Sexton helped build and launch partypoker in 2002 and made it grow in the early days of the poker boom. Sexton had a visionary approach to launch and market the site that helped see the startup through the initial struggle before becoming the first online poker company to go public.

The WPT Stint

Sexton later sold off his shares in partypoker and joined the newly launched World Poker Tour (WPT) as a commentator in 2002. partypoker in 2009 acquired WPT.

Decades later, in 2017, Sexton admitted on Joe Ingram’s Poker Life Podcast that selling his shares in partypoker had been an enormous mistake. He pointed out that he could have been worth $500 Million had he not sold off his shares in partypoker.

“It’s a business story that is just mind-boggling. These people had no hindsight investors, nothing. In less than 4 years’ time after launching partypoker, they went public for $9 billion. A year and a half before they went public, I was the last shareholder in the US…they offered to buy me out. They said, ‘what do you want for your stock?’ I said ‘what will you give me for it?’”

Since 2002, Sexton has co-hosted 15 seasons of the WPT alongside Vince Van Patten.

Returning to partypoker

In May 2017, Sexton retired from his role at WPT to return to partypoker as Chairman, announcing that he had ambitious plans to help make his poker site “the best in the business.”

Given his long-standing contribution to the game, it is no surprise that the entire global poker community is up in arms praying for his speedy recovery.