Poker player makes World Series of Poker Circuit history

Martin Ryan is on some kind of heater these days. Ryan is the champion of Event #3 at the Palm Beach Kennel Club Poker Room, winning his fourth gold ring in as many months. He's the first player in the Circuit's 13-year history to win four rings in the same season.

The champ is a 54-year-old recreational player from Trinidad, the large half of a twin-island nation in the Caribbean. Back home, he spends most of his time tending to his business, which includes a bed and breakfast and a private gaming club. His secular pursuits keep him occupied for most of the year, but an off-season lull allowed him the opportunity to spend a few months traveling the Circuit. He's certainly making the best of his shot.

Ryan emerged from relative anonymity in November, winning two Circuit rings and Casino Champion honors at Casino Royale in St. Maarten. A month later, he backed up those results with a third ring, dominating a big field in a $1,125 event at the The Bicycle Hotel & Casino to put his name on the map in mainland North America. Ryan has done it again in West Palm Beach, snagging a fourth ring to cement his recent run as one of the all-time greats.

Part of what sets Ryan apart from most players is his ruthless aggression.

"I play about 97% of hands in the first four levels," he admitted. "Later, you have to fold some of those hands. But in the first four levels, when the blinds are small. Any two cards."

Whatever he's doing, it's working. In addition to the four victories, Ryan has a handful of recent near-misses, including a second-place finish just a couple days ago, a third, a fifth and an eighth, all in ring events. In total, he's earned more than $200,000 playing tournament poker over the last four months.