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When Billy Kopp was eliminated in the 2009 WSOP, it was a legitimate shock for many  people who’d followed the player from his online poker games to the biggest event the game has.  Kopp had been a tournament chip leader for a large portion of the main event when he’d moved all-in for about 20 million before the river.  When Moon called him and revealed his hand, Kopp stood up and walked quickly out of the secondary feature table area as quickly as he could.

While he didn’t end up taking first place, the poker prodigy made an impressive showing, earning almost $900,000 even if he fell short of the famous November 9.  His career so far has been brief but memorable.  Unlike many players who have struggled with the game, Kopp’s a natural.  “When I was 18, I deposited $50 online a few times. After being in for under $200, I had a bankroll over $100,000,” he says in an interview on UltimateBet.com.

For most of his career, Kopp’s been a tournament player almost exclusively, believing in the rewards that a long-haul game offers, but that may be changing.  “I specialize in tournaments. I rarely play cash games, but I am getting into them more lately.”  He’s also following in the footsteps of players like Phil Hellmuth and putting his college career on hold to move to Las Vegas and become a professional player.  The reasoning though, isn’t just about the game.  The region offers tax advantages to people earning a certain amount, and Kopp’s very confident of his ability to bring in the dollars at the tables.

In addition to Vegas, don’t be surprised if you see Kopp in one of his favorite exotic destinations.  He’s taken advantage of his winnings to visit Maui and Nassau and enjoy the good life that many of his age group can’t even imagine yet.  He knows that he’s lucky and is constantly working to improve his game.