For professional athletes, retirement often comes with a jarring question: where will the adrenaline rush come from now? After years of roaring stadiums, pressure-packed moments, and a constant drive to outcompete the opposition, walking away from sports can feel like stepping into silence. Some athletes turn to broadcasting. Others dive into business ventures. But for an intriguing few, the lure of high-stakes poker provides that next great competitive arena.
It’s not a stretch to see why. The World Series of Poker (WSOP) offers a stage brimming with tension and glory, albeit one without helmets, pads, or roaring crowds.