5 Poker Players Who Made Their Name Away From the Card Table
Poker has long attracted people with sharp minds, competitive instincts, and a taste for calculated risk. While many professional players gain fame primarily through tournament wins or televised appearances, a select group has achieved even greater recognition beyond the world of poker.
For these individuals, poker is just one chapter in a much broader story, one that includes success in sports, media, business, and culture.
Tony Bloom: From Poker Genius to Football Power Broker
Tony Bloom is widely respected within poker circles as one of the game’s most formidable minds, but his public reputation extends far beyond the felt. Known in poker under the nickname “The Lizard” for his calm, analytical demeanour, Bloom built a highly successful poker career in the 1990s and 2000s.
He won millions in both live tournaments and high-stakes cash games, including a World Poker Tour title and multiple deep runs in elite events.
Away from poker, Bloom’s influence has arguably been even more significant. He is the chairman and owner of Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club, a team he helped transform from lower-league instability into a consistent presence in the English Premier League.
His data-driven approach to decision-making, rooted in the same probabilistic thinking that underpins poker, has been central to Brighton’s rise.
Bloom is also a successful entrepreneur in sports analytics and betting, having founded companies that specialise in statistical modelling and predictive analysis. While poker provided the training ground for his strategic mindset, his legacy is now firmly established in football and analytics-driven business leadership.
Victoria Coren Mitchell: Poker Champion and Cultural Icon
Victoria Coren Mitchell occupies a rare position at the intersection of intellectual life, popular culture, and competitive poker. She made history in 2006 by becoming the first woman to win a European Poker Tour (EPT) main event, a feat she later repeated in 2014, making her the only player, male or female, to win two EPT titles in the same city.
Yet poker is only one facet of Coren Mitchell’s public identity. Long before her major poker successes, she was already well known in the UK as a writer, columnist, and broadcaster. Her work has appeared in major newspapers, and she is celebrated for her sharp wit, literary sensibility, and thoughtful commentary on politics, society, and culture.
To millions of television viewers, she is best known as the host of the BBC quiz show Only Connect, a role that highlights her love of language, lateral thinking, and intellectual playfulness. Married to comedian and author David Mitchell, Coren Mitchell is a fixture of British cultural life. Her poker achievements enhance, rather than define, a career built on intellect, creativity, and communication.
Teddy Sheringham: Football Legend with a Poker Edge
Teddy Sheringham’s fame was firmly established long before he ever sat down at a poker table. One of England’s most accomplished footballers, Sheringham enjoyed a distinguished career with clubs such as Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, winning multiple Premier League titles and famously scoring in the dramatic 1999 UEFA Champions League final.
After retiring from professional football, Sheringham turned his competitive focus to poker—and proved he was far more than a celebrity hobbyist.
He recorded several strong tournament results, including a notable deep run in the World Series of Poker Main Event, where he finished ahead of thousands of seasoned professionals.
Sheringham has spoken openly about the similarities between football and poker: discipline, emotional control, and the ability to perform under pressure. While poker never eclipsed his footballing legacy, his success at the tables earned him genuine respect within the poker community and demonstrated how elite competitive skills can transfer across very different domains.
Jimmy White: Snooker Royalty at the Poker Table
Jimmy White is one of the most iconic figures in the history of snooker, renowned for his flair, longevity, and enduring popularity. Nicknamed “The Whirlwind,” White reached six World Snooker Championship finals and enjoyed decades at the top of the professional game, becoming a household name in British sport.
Alongside snooker, White has long had a deep involvement with poker. He has competed in numerous major tournaments, including the World Series of Poker, and was a regular presence on televised poker shows during the game’s boom years.
Unlike many celebrity players, White’s results demonstrated a genuine understanding of tournament play and long-term strategy.
Poker appealed to the same instincts that defined his snooker career: touch, timing, and nerve under pressure. While his sporting legacy is firmly rooted in snooker, White’s sustained presence in poker earned him credibility and respect, rather than being viewed as a novelty crossover.
James Haskell: From Rugby Enforcer to Poker Personality
James Haskell first rose to prominence as a professional rugby union player, representing England internationally and playing club rugby in the Premiership and abroad. Known for his physicality, intensity, and outspoken personality, Haskell was a familiar figure in elite sport long before his involvement in poker.
After retiring from rugby, Haskell became increasingly visible in the poker world. He has played in high-profile live tournaments, appeared in poker-related media, and openly discussed his passion for the game. His analytical approach, combined with a willingness to study and improve, has helped him transition from curious amateur to respected competitor.
Beyond poker, Haskell has established himself as a media figure through podcasting, television appearances, and commentary, building a post-rugby career centered on personality and insight. Poker fits naturally into this broader reinvention, offering both competition and intellectual challenge.
More Than Poker Players
What unites Tony Bloom, Victoria Coren Mitchell, Teddy Sheringham, Jimmy White, and James Haskell is not just their poker skill, but the way poker fits into a much larger personal narrative.
For each of them, the game served as an outlet for strategic thinking and competition, rather than the sole foundation of their fame.
Their stories challenge the stereotype of the professional poker player as someone defined only by cards and chips. Instead, they show how poker can complement careers in sport, media, and business, sharpening decision-making, reinforcing discipline, and rewarding intellectual curiosity.
**The information provided in this blog is intended for educational purposes and should not be construed as betting advice or a guarantee of success. Always gamble responsibly.
