Champion of Poker

Paul “Eskimo” Clark was born in New Orleans, LA. He served during the Vietnam War where he served as a medic. Not much else is known about the background for this long time players other than those facts. For over 20 years, Clark has been spotted at many high stakes games and in tournaments around the country. His nickname of “Eskimo” is due to the fact that he looks like the Alaska Airlines logo.

Most of Clark’s large wins in poker have come at the World Series of Poker. Clark has three WSOP bracelets to his credit. His first came in 1992 in a $5,000 Seven Card Stud event where he won $122,000. Several years later he took the $1,500 Razz event during the 1999 World Series of Poker. His third and final bracelet came during the 2002 World Series of Poker when he won the $1,500 Stud 8 or Better event and $125,200. Clark has also cashed in the 1997 and 1998 WSOP Main Event.

Clark also has four cashes on the World Poker Tour. He finished 10th at the Jack Binion World Poker Open in 2004 and then made his only WPT final table at the World Poker Challenge the same year. He took 3rd in that event for $310,403. Remarkably, this is the largest cash in Clark’s career.

If you look back over Clark’s career, you will notice numerous final tables and tournament wins in smaller tournament venues all over the United States. His largest score outside of the WSOP and WPT has been at the World Poker Classic at 2003 when he won the $1,500 No Limit event for $160,095.

The 2007 WSOP was a scary one for anyone that knows Clark. During the $2,000 Stud 8 or Better event, Clark collapsed at the table, suffering from an apparent stroke. For most people, this would end their WSOP. Clark came back a couple of days later and continued on. He made the final table of the $1,500 Razz event and again collapsed at the table, again from an apparent mini-stroke. Clark refused to leave the event and Harrah’s was forced to have him sign an agreement releasing them from any responsibility. Clark would finish in 4th place in the event. Many people wondered if Clark’s days were short. Clark would then come back over the next few months and make final tables in four different events, including the Main Event of the Binion’s Poker Open, where he finished in 2nd place.

Although Clark has been able to win over $2.6 Million in his poker career, he is notoriously known for being broke. Part of it is due to the fact that he seems to have poor money management skills. Others claim that he loses a lot of the money he wins in Pot Limit Omaha.

Whatever the reason is for the loss, he can be found many times peddling for buy-ins to events. However, Clark still is able to find his way into a lot of event. It is likely due to the fact that he does have a solid track record in poker, even if he is unable to hold onto his money afterwards. Hopefully someone will come along to teach him how to properly manage his money. It would be a shame to see such a successful poker player wind up broke at the end of his life as so many other players have before him.