Brad
Kondracki was born in 1981 and studies law at Penn University.
Kondracki qualified for the 2005 Main Event by winning a $160 satellite
tournament on PokerStars.com. In this year's Main Event, an amazing
1116 out of 5619 entrants also won their entry fee by playing smaller
tournaments online at the very same online poker room. In the Main
Event, Brad battled his way to the final table although he entered with
a dangerously short stack. On the very first hand, Kondracki was able
to steal the blinds and antes by pushing all-in. A few hands later he
managed to double up against Steve Dannenmann for a total of 2.6
million in chips. This chip stack was enough to let Kondracki coast
through Mike Matusow's elimination and secure himself the next pay out
level of the tournament of $1.15 million. Kondracki's 8th place finish
puts him among the growing list of tournament poker millionaires who
won their entry in an online tournament for a fraction of the actual
tournament entry fee.
After the tournament, Brad explained to
reporters that he would be returning to Penn University in the fall to
continue his studies in law, much to the approval of his father who was
not far way. Kondracki's performance in the Main Event has revealed
once again that anyone who enters the Main Event has a shot at the big
money no matter how many seasoned pros are in the field. Much like
2003's Champion, Chris Moneymaker, Kondracki had only 2 years of
experience playing No Limit Hold 'em before multiplying his $160
investment into 1.15 million. Time will tell if Kondracki will continue
pursue playing poker professionally or recreationally - in the mean
time, you can contest some of that 1.15 million dollar bank roll by
playing poker with Brad online - look for him under the screen name
"bogey54" on PokerStars.com.