WSOPC Event #11: $1,700 MAIN EVENT

David Jackson is having himself quite a month. Three weeks after the birth of his second child, Jackson was back on the tournament grind at Harrah’s Cherokee, and it appears that he’s running good in both life and poker. The new dad took down the $580 WSOP Circuit event, winning his first gold ring and the top prize of $39,938.

Jackson, 30, is a professional poker player from Jacksonville, Florida. He’s only been playing the game full time for about five years, and he’s already racked up seven figures in earnings.

“I used to play online,” he said of his background in the game. “I did well, but I went broke like four times straight. I’d make a little bit of money, quit my job, and then lose it. Then I’d go back to work and make a little more money.”

Jackson finally got one of his shots to stick, and he hasn’t looked back since. This most recent result moves him over $1.2 million in career earnings, including a six-figure score at the 2014 WSOP.

He was a few days late arriving in Cherokee, but Jackson got right to work in Event #3. He ended Day 1 in 18th place with 32 players left, and he was nursing a short stack by the time the final 10 players combined around one table. Things turned around quickly from there, though, and he went on to defeat Michael Cooper in the heads-up match to secure the win.

Although the poker accolades were well worth discussing, Jackson spent most of the winner’s interview talking about his family. “Make sure you give my wife, Gloria, a shoutout,” he said. “Without her, I wouldn’t be here.”

He also gives partial credit to his infant child for the way things ended up. “Baby run-good,” he laughed.

Final table results:

1st: David Jackson - $39,938
2nd: Michael Cooper - $24,675
3rd: Christopher Churchwell - $18,030
4th: Juan Mendoza - $13,387
5th: Regina Hampton - $10,095
6th: Kindah Sakkal - $7,726
7th: Khang Luu - $6,000
8th: Jeremy Pappano - $4,726
9th: Jonathan Henry - $3,775

Click here for the full results.