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Some people are just bound to be successful at whatever they choose to do. T.J.
Cloutier is one of these people; before becoming a Poker legend, Cloutier was
a successful businessman, and a professional football player. With over 50
major tournament wins to his credit, few would argue that TJ Cloutier has
earned his reputation as one of the best poker players of all time.
Born in 1939 in Albany, California, TJ Cloutier was a talented athlete at a
young age. His athletic ability earned him a scholarship at Berkeley. TJ would
also be drafted by the US Army, and it was here where he started playing
Poker. Upon return from the Army, TJ joined the Montreal Allouettes of the
Canadian Football League. He was then traded to the Toronto Argonauts, where
unfortunately he would suffer a career-ending knee injury. Having lost the
ability to play professional football, TJ started a grocery chain with his
father and brother-in-law. The business was moderately successful, until
embezzlement by an outside partner, and the business was dissolved. This would
be a turning point in TJ’s life.
After the collapse of his company, TJ headed east to Texas. With $100 in his
pockets, he took a job on the oil rigs, and took up Poker in his spare time.
Before long Poker was paying better than his day job, so the decision to
become a Poker player was an easy one. From those humble beginnings, TJ has
risen to prominence as one of the most successful tournament poker players of
all time. It’s estimated he has since earned between $7 and $8 million in
winnings!
The key to Cloutier’s success at the tables is his incredible observational
skills; he is truly gifted with his eyes, and is seemingly capable of taking
in every detail at a poker table and using them to his advantage. His
observation makes him very difficult to play against, and he capitalizes on
this skill by exploiting the information his opponents inevitably leak.
Although TJ hasn’t won the WSOP main event yet, he holds 4 WSOP bracelets.
Like most of the true greats, TJ is a versatile player and is a threat to win
a title in any tournament in any form of poker. Add that to his WPT victories,
and over 50 major tournament wins, and it becomes obvious why many players
will tell you TJ Cloutier is one of the greatest tournament players of all
time. Today, TJ lives with his wife Joy in Texas, and has published four books
about Poker. Look for him to continue to be a force in the Poker world anytime
he sits down at a table.
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