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Hoyt Corkins Biography
April 2010

Hoyt Corkins was born in Glenwood, Alabama. He is an American professional poker player know for his softly-spoken voice and his aggressive style. Corkins has two World Series of Poker bracelets and two World Poker Tour titles.

He started playing poker at the age of 19 after receiving lessons from his father. He is often known by the nickname "Alabama Cowboy" as he is often seen wearing a cowboy hat and boots to the table. However, he has been given other nicknames, including "Mr. Move All-In" by Phil Hellmuth, Jr. Many players also call him "Nightmare". Corkins often wears a pair of ear plugs while playing in live poker tournaments in order to prevent other players’ chatter from affecting his game.

In 1992, he won a World Series of Poker bracelet and $96,000 in the $5,000 Pot Limit Omaha event.

After Hoyt Corkins’ World Series of Poker championship, he left the game of poker to return to Alabama and raise cattle; he disappeared from the game for 11 years whilst going through a divorce.

Corkins resurfaced on the poker scene and was quick to re-establish himself as an elite poker professional, taking a then record-breaking first prize of $1,089,200 in the World Poker Tour 2003 World Poker Finals. He also had a second place finish to Gus Hanson in early 2004 at the Pokerstars Caribbean Poker Adventure, which earned him $290,065. Corkins was sick from the flu during this event, but he says it did not affect his play. Also in 2004, he made the final table at the United States Poker Championship main event held at the Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, NJ.

In November 2005, Corkins finished second to Mike Matusow in the World Series of Poker Tournament of Champions freeroll receiving $325,000.

In 2007, at the 2007 World Series of Poker, Corkins won the $2,500 Six Handed No Limit Hold Em event, defeating Terrence Chan and winning over $515,000, in addition to the championship bracelet. At the 2008 World Series of Poker, Corkins finished in 162nd place out of 6,844 entries, earning $41,816. In total, he has finished in the money on 22 occasions at the World Series of Poker.

In January 2010, Corkins won his second World Poker Tour title at the Southern Poker Championships in Biloxi, Mississippi taking home $739,486.

Hoyt Corkins is a true "Alabama Cowboy" complete with a black, hat, black shirt, blue jeans and cowboy boots, which he wears to most poker events. Corkins plays very fast, aggressive and likes to intimidate his opponents with his loose play. His "Alabama Cowboy" appearance helps to convey the intimidating image.

Hoyt Corkins fellow competitors describe him as "laid back, soft spoken and humble", while he describes himself as "reserved and low-key". Having won over $5 million in career earnings, Corkins is always on the hunt for the cash. Corkins is currently single and lives in Las Vegas, Nevada.