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{{confused|Alek Jacob}}
{{short description|American poker player}}
{{Short description|American poker player (born 1984)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox poker player
{{Infobox poker player
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| name = Alex Jacob
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'''Alex Jacob''' (born October 27, 1984) is a former professional [[poker]] player and game show contestant.
'''Alex Jacob''' (born October 27, 1984) is an American former professional [[poker]] player and game show contestant.


Jacob is perhaps best known in poker for winning the 2006 main event at the [[United States Poker Championship]], a no-limit [[Texas hold 'em]] event televised by [[ESPN]]. He has also appeared at televised final tables at the [[World Series of Poker]] and the [[World Poker Tour]]. In 2015, after leaving professional poker, Jacob became a contestant on ''[[Jeopardy!]]'', where he won six games and the show's [[Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions|Tournament of Champions]].
Jacob is perhaps best known in poker for winning the 2006 main event at the [[United States Poker Championship]], a no-limit [[Texas hold 'em]] event televised by [[ESPN]]. He has also appeared at televised final tables at the [[World Series of Poker]] and the [[World Poker Tour]]. In 2015, after leaving professional poker, Jacob became a contestant on ''[[Jeopardy!]]'', where he won six games and the show's [[Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions|Tournament of Champions]].
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In 2002, Jacob was the valedictorian of Deerfield Beach High School, where he was in the International Baccalaureate (IB) program.
In 2002, Jacob was the valedictorian of Deerfield Beach High School, where he was in the International Baccalaureate (IB) program.


In May 2006, he graduated from Yale University with a degree in [[economics]] and [[mathematics]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.worldpokertour.com/players/?x=profile&poker-player=2615 |title=WPT Players |work=worldpokertour.com |accessdate=April 10, 2015}}</ref>
In May 2006, he graduated from Yale University with a degree in [[economics]] and [[mathematics]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Alex Jacob |url=https://www.worldpokertour.com/player/alex-jacob/ |access-date=March 29, 2024 |website=World Poker Tour |language=en-US}}</ref>


==Poker career==
==Poker career==


Among Jacob's biggest poker accomplishments are winning the Peter A. Fabrizio Memorial Poker Classic in 2003 and finishing runner-up at the 2006 [[World Poker Tour]] (WPT) tournament in [[Foxwoods Resort Casino]] on April 9, 2006, winning $655,507. Jacob secured his biggest paycheck to date by winning the 2006 [[U.S. Poker Championship]] with a first-place prize of $878,500. Jacob has 4 [[World Series of Poker|WSOP]] Final Tables, including a 3rd in [[2007 World Series of Poker results#Event 3|Event 3]] in No-Limit [[Texas hold 'em|hold'em]] at the [[2007 World Series of Poker]].
Among Jacob's biggest poker accomplishments are winning the Peter A. Fabrizio Memorial Poker Classic in 2003 and finishing runner-up at the 2006 [[World Poker Tour]] (WPT) tournament in [[Foxwoods Resort Casino]] on April 9, 2006, winning $655,507.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Foxwoods Poker Classic 2006, Championship Event - No Limit Hold'em |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=17186 |access-date=March 29, 2024 |website=The Hendon Mob |language=en}}</ref> Jacob secured his biggest paycheck to date by winning the 2006 [[U.S. Poker Championship]] with a first-place prize of $878,500.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2006 United States Poker Championship, No Limit Hold'em - Championship Event |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=24648 |access-date=March 29, 2024 |website=The Hendon Mob |language=en}}</ref> Jacob has 4 [[World Series of Poker|WSOP]] Final Tables, including a 3rd in [[2007 World Series of Poker results#Event 3|Event 3]] in No-Limit [[Texas hold 'em|hold'em]] at the [[2007 World Series of Poker]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=38th World Series of Poker - WSOP 2007, No Limit Hold'em |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=26147 |access-date=March 29, 2024 |website=The Hendon Mob |language=en}}</ref>


At Yale, Jacob's poker talent was spotted by [[James McManus]] as early as 2004, when McManus sat down one night to play with Jacob. Months later, McManus mentioned Jacob in an article about the experience.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.esquire.com/features/ESQ0404-APR_POKER?par=msn_h%7Cesq%7Cemb%7C |title=Lifestyle |author=Lane Moore |work=Esquire |accessdate=April 10, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120319212312/http://www.esquire.com/features/ESQ0404-APR_POKER?par=msn_h%7Cesq%7Cemb%7C |archive-date=March 19, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
At Yale, Jacob's poker talent was spotted by [[James McManus]] as early as 2004, when McManus sat down one night to play with Jacob. Months later, McManus mentioned Jacob in an article about the experience.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McManus |first=James |date=March 31, 2004 |title=Further Adventures In Poker |url=http://www.esquire.com/features/ESQ0404-APR_POKER?par=msn_h%7Cesq%7Cemb%7C |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120319212312/http://www.esquire.com/features/ESQ0404-APR_POKER?par=msn_h%7Cesq%7Cemb%7C |archive-date=March 19, 2012 |access-date=April 10, 2015 |website=Esquire}}</ref>


As of 2012, Jacob's total live tournament winnings exceed $2,600,000.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=r&n=52461 |title=Alex Jacob |work=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |accessdate=April 10, 2015}}</ref> His 25 cashes at the WSOP account for $832,559 of those winnings.<ref>[http://www.worldseriesofpoker.com/players/index.asp?sort=cashearned&pagenum=3 World Series of Poker Earnings] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090712161002/http://www.worldseriesofpoker.com/players/index.asp?sort=cashearned&pagenum=3 |date=July 12, 2009 }}, worldseriesofpoker.com</ref> He is known for his graciousness and sportsmanship in tournament play.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.worldseriesofpoker.com/news/article.asp?newsID=1237 |title=World Series of Poker |work=worldseriesofpoker.com |accessdate=April 10, 2015}}</ref>
As of 2012, Jacob's total live tournament winnings exceed $2,600,000.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Alex Jacob's profile on The Hendon Mob |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=r&n=52461 |access-date=December 11, 2023 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}}</ref> His 25 cashes at the WSOP account for $832,559 of those winnings.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Alex Jacob |url=https://www.wsop.com/players/profile/?playerid=8240 |access-date=March 29, 2024 |website=WSOP.com}}</ref>


==''Jeopardy!''==
==''Jeopardy!''==


Jacob has also appeared on the game show ''[[Jeopardy!]]''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.j-archive.com/showgame.php?game_id=4868 |title=Show #7045 – Friday, April 10, 2015 |work=J!Archive |accessdate=April 11, 2015}}</ref> He won in his first appearance on the show on April 10, 2015, and went on to win five more games before losing on April 20, 2015. Jacob won a grand total of $151,802 in seven appearances.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.j-archive.com/showgame.php?game_id=4875 |title=Show #7050 – Friday, April 17, 2015 |website=J! Archive |access-date=April 19, 2015}}</ref> His victories qualified him for the 2015 [[Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions|Tournament of Champions]], which he won, collecting the grand prize of $250,000.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/tv/ct-jeopardy-tournament-of-champions-alex-jacob-20151117-story.html |title=Chicago trader wins 'Jeopardy' tournament round despite joke answer |last=Swartz |first=Tracy |work= Chicago Tribune |date=November 18, 2015 |accessdate=November 18, 2015 }}</ref> In addition to using the "Forrest Bounce" originated by [[Chuck Forrest]], Jacob also pioneered the strategy of aggressive Daily Double wagers that was used with even greater success by [[James Holzhauer]] in 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://kotaku.com/provocative-jeopardy-champ-says-hq-trivia-owes-him-20-1836219879|title=Provocative Jeopardy Champ Says HQ Trivia Owes Him $20,000 In Winnings|first=Gita|last=Jackson|work=Kotaku.com|date=July 9, 2019|accessdate=July 9, 2019|quote=During his run on Jeopardy, where Jacob both thrilled and frustrated fans by jumping around categories looking for Daily Doubles and then betting so much money that no one could overtake him(...)}}</ref>
Jacob has also appeared on the game show ''[[Jeopardy!]]''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.j-archive.com/showgame.php?game_id=4868 |title=Show #7045 – Friday, April 10, 2015 |work=J!Archive |date=April 11, 2015 |accessdate=April 11, 2015}}</ref> He won in his first appearance on the show on April 10, 2015, and went on to win five more games before losing on April 20, 2015. Jacob won a grand total of $151,802 in seven appearances.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.j-archive.com/showgame.php?game_id=4875 |title=Show #7050 – Friday, April 17, 2015 |website=J! Archive |date=April 18, 2015 |access-date=April 19, 2015}}</ref> His victories qualified him for the 2015 [[Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions|Tournament of Champions]], which he won, collecting the grand prize of $250,000.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/tv/ct-jeopardy-tournament-of-champions-alex-jacob-20151117-story.html |title=Chicago trader wins 'Jeopardy' tournament round despite joke answer |last=Swartz |first=Tracy |work= Chicago Tribune |date=November 18, 2015 |accessdate=November 18, 2015 }}</ref> In addition to using the "Forrest Bounce" originated by [[Chuck Forrest]], Jacob also pioneered the strategy of aggressive Daily Double wagers that was used with even greater success by [[James Holzhauer]] in 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://kotaku.com/provocative-jeopardy-champ-says-hq-trivia-owes-him-20-1836219879|title=Provocative Jeopardy Champ Says HQ Trivia Owes Him $20,000 In Winnings|first=Gita|last=Jackson|work=Kotaku.com|date=July 9, 2019|accessdate=July 9, 2019|quote=During his run on Jeopardy, where Jacob both thrilled and frustrated fans by jumping around categories looking for Daily Doubles and then betting so much money that no one could overtake him(...)}}</ref>


Jacob later appeared in the All-Star Games with team captain Buzzy Cohen and 2015 Teachers' Tournament champion Jennifer Giles. His team went home with $75,000 after losing the wild card match.
Jacob later appeared in the All-Star Games with team captain Buzzy Cohen and 2015 Teachers' Tournament champion Jennifer Giles. His team went home with $75,000 after losing the wild card match.


== Endorsements ==
== Endorsements ==
Jacob is a frequent player on the trivia app [[FleetWit]], especially in the high-stakes races where top prizes are in the hundreds of dollars. He has won over $24,000 to date.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fleetwit.com/#/profile/32be1aa94fd8b84681649f92eccbbd84|title=FleetWit - Brain Games for Cash|last=FleetWit|website=www.fleetwit.com|language=en|access-date=March 13, 2018}}</ref> He was also noted for winning a $20,000 prize on the [[HQ Trivia]] app in June 2019,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pokernewsdaily.com/semi-pro-poker-player-alex-jacob-demonstrates-prowess-on-quiz-show-hq-32923/|title=Semi-Pro Poker Player Alex Jacob Demonstrates Prowess on Quiz Show HQ|first=Earl|last=Burton|date=June 16, 2019|accessdate=June 21, 2019}}</ref> which HQ Trivia had failed to pay a month after his win.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/2019/07/08/hq-trivia-player-wins-20-000-doesnt-receive-payout/|title=HQ Trivia player wins $20,000, doesn't receive payout|work=Comicbook.com|date=July 8, 2019|accessdate=July 8, 2019}}</ref> (Jacob received his payout in August.)<ref>https://twitter.com/whoisalexjacob/status/1159507518730702848</ref>
Jacob is a frequent player on the trivia app [[FleetWit]], especially in the high-stakes races where top prizes are in the hundreds of dollars. He has won over $24,000 to date.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fleetwit.com/#/profile/32be1aa94fd8b84681649f92eccbbd84|title=FleetWit - Brain Games for Cash|last=FleetWit|website=www.fleetwit.com|language=en|access-date=March 13, 2018|archive-date=February 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200224174026/https://www.fleetwit.com/#/profile/32be1aa94fd8b84681649f92eccbbd84|url-status=dead}}</ref> He was also noted for winning a $20,000 prize on the [[HQ Trivia]] app in June 2019,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pokernewsdaily.com/semi-pro-poker-player-alex-jacob-demonstrates-prowess-on-quiz-show-hq-32923/|title=Semi-Pro Poker Player Alex Jacob Demonstrates Prowess on Quiz Show HQ|first=Earl|last=Burton|date=June 16, 2019|accessdate=June 21, 2019}}</ref> which HQ Trivia had failed to pay a month after his win.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Garrett |first=Eric |date=July 8, 2019 |title=HQ Trivia player wins $20,000, doesn't receive payout |url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/2019/07/08/hq-trivia-player-wins-20-000-doesnt-receive-payout/ |access-date=July 8, 2019 |website=Comicbook.com}}</ref> (Jacob received his payout in August.)<ref>{{cite tweet |user=whoisalexjacob |number=1159507518730702848 |date=August 8, 2019 |title=To follow up on my post about @hqtrivia, the team at HQ has resolved my issues. They took some time to ensure everyone is following the rules, which is always good. I look forward to continuing to play for the big jackpots and am sure you'll join me. |first=Alex |last=Jacob |access-date=September 26, 2019 }}</ref>


==References==
==References==
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==External links==
==External links==
* [http://cardplayer.com/players/results/Alex_Jacob/23749 Alex Jacob in the CardPlayer.com Player Database]
* [https://www.cardplayer.com/poker-players/23749-alex-jacob CardPlayer profile]
* [https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=r&n=52461 Hendon Mob profile]
* [https://www.worldpokertour.com/player/alex-jacob/#playerTab1 WPT profile]
* [https://www.wsop.com/players/profile/?playerid=8240 WSOP profile]

{{S-start}}
{{S-start}}
{{succession box|before=Ben Ingram|title=[[Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions|''Jeopardy!'' Tournament of Champions]] winner|years=2015|after=Buzzy Cohen}}
{{succession box|before=Ben Ingram|title=[[Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions|''Jeopardy!'' Tournament of Champions]] winner|years=2015|after=[[Buzzy Cohen]]}}
{{S-end}}
{{S-end}}


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[[Category:People from Houston]]
[[Category:People from Houston]]
[[Category:Deerfield Beach High School alumni]]
[[Category:Deerfield Beach High School alumni]]
[[Category:Jeopardy! contestants]]
[[Category:Contestants on American game shows]]

Latest revision as of 18:49, 9 October 2024

Alex Jacob
Nickname(s)Fro-Poker
BornOctober 27, 1984 (1984-10-27) (age 40)
Houston, Texas, U.S.
World Series of Poker
Bracelet(s)None
Money finish(es)25
Highest ITM
Main Event finish
390th, 2010
World Poker Tour
Title(s)None
Final table(s)1
Money finish(es)3
Information last updated on January 31, 2010.

Alex Jacob (born October 27, 1984) is an American former professional poker player and game show contestant.

Jacob is perhaps best known in poker for winning the 2006 main event at the United States Poker Championship, a no-limit Texas hold 'em event televised by ESPN. He has also appeared at televised final tables at the World Series of Poker and the World Poker Tour. In 2015, after leaving professional poker, Jacob became a contestant on Jeopardy!, where he won six games and the show's Tournament of Champions.

Education

[edit]

In 2002, Jacob was the valedictorian of Deerfield Beach High School, where he was in the International Baccalaureate (IB) program.

In May 2006, he graduated from Yale University with a degree in economics and mathematics.[1]

Poker career

[edit]

Among Jacob's biggest poker accomplishments are winning the Peter A. Fabrizio Memorial Poker Classic in 2003 and finishing runner-up at the 2006 World Poker Tour (WPT) tournament in Foxwoods Resort Casino on April 9, 2006, winning $655,507.[2] Jacob secured his biggest paycheck to date by winning the 2006 U.S. Poker Championship with a first-place prize of $878,500.[3] Jacob has 4 WSOP Final Tables, including a 3rd in Event 3 in No-Limit hold'em at the 2007 World Series of Poker.[4]

At Yale, Jacob's poker talent was spotted by James McManus as early as 2004, when McManus sat down one night to play with Jacob. Months later, McManus mentioned Jacob in an article about the experience.[5]

As of 2012, Jacob's total live tournament winnings exceed $2,600,000.[6] His 25 cashes at the WSOP account for $832,559 of those winnings.[7]

Jeopardy!

[edit]

Jacob has also appeared on the game show Jeopardy![8] He won in his first appearance on the show on April 10, 2015, and went on to win five more games before losing on April 20, 2015. Jacob won a grand total of $151,802 in seven appearances.[9] His victories qualified him for the 2015 Tournament of Champions, which he won, collecting the grand prize of $250,000.[10] In addition to using the "Forrest Bounce" originated by Chuck Forrest, Jacob also pioneered the strategy of aggressive Daily Double wagers that was used with even greater success by James Holzhauer in 2019.[11]

Jacob later appeared in the All-Star Games with team captain Buzzy Cohen and 2015 Teachers' Tournament champion Jennifer Giles. His team went home with $75,000 after losing the wild card match.

Endorsements

[edit]

Jacob is a frequent player on the trivia app FleetWit, especially in the high-stakes races where top prizes are in the hundreds of dollars. He has won over $24,000 to date.[12] He was also noted for winning a $20,000 prize on the HQ Trivia app in June 2019,[13] which HQ Trivia had failed to pay a month after his win.[14] (Jacob received his payout in August.)[15]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Alex Jacob". World Poker Tour. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  2. ^ "Foxwoods Poker Classic 2006, Championship Event - No Limit Hold'em". The Hendon Mob. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  3. ^ "2006 United States Poker Championship, No Limit Hold'em - Championship Event". The Hendon Mob. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  4. ^ "38th World Series of Poker - WSOP 2007, No Limit Hold'em". The Hendon Mob. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  5. ^ McManus, James (March 31, 2004). "Further Adventures In Poker". Esquire. Archived from the original on March 19, 2012. Retrieved April 10, 2015.
  6. ^ "Alex Jacob's profile on The Hendon Mob". The Hendon Mob Poker Database. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  7. ^ "Alex Jacob". WSOP.com. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  8. ^ "Show #7045 – Friday, April 10, 2015". J!Archive. April 11, 2015. Retrieved April 11, 2015.
  9. ^ "Show #7050 – Friday, April 17, 2015". J! Archive. April 18, 2015. Retrieved April 19, 2015.
  10. ^ Swartz, Tracy (November 18, 2015). "Chicago trader wins 'Jeopardy' tournament round despite joke answer". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
  11. ^ Jackson, Gita (July 9, 2019). "Provocative Jeopardy Champ Says HQ Trivia Owes Him $20,000 In Winnings". Kotaku.com. Retrieved July 9, 2019. During his run on Jeopardy, where Jacob both thrilled and frustrated fans by jumping around categories looking for Daily Doubles and then betting so much money that no one could overtake him(...)
  12. ^ FleetWit. "FleetWit - Brain Games for Cash". www.fleetwit.com. Archived from the original on February 24, 2020. Retrieved March 13, 2018.
  13. ^ Burton, Earl (June 16, 2019). "Semi-Pro Poker Player Alex Jacob Demonstrates Prowess on Quiz Show HQ". Retrieved June 21, 2019.
  14. ^ Garrett, Eric (July 8, 2019). "HQ Trivia player wins $20,000, doesn't receive payout". Comicbook.com. Retrieved July 8, 2019.
  15. ^ Jacob, Alex [@whoisalexjacob] (August 8, 2019). "To follow up on my post about @hqtrivia, the team at HQ has resolved my issues. They took some time to ensure everyone is following the rules, which is always good. I look forward to continuing to play for the big jackpots and am sure you'll join me" (Tweet). Retrieved September 26, 2019 – via Twitter.
[edit]
Preceded by
Ben Ingram
Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions winner
2015
Succeeded by