Ken Flaton

Ken Flaton (June 28, 1940 – November 7, 2004) was an American professional poker player who was born in New York City, New York and settled in Henderson, Nevada after serving in the US Army.[1]

Ken Flaton
Nickname(s)Skyhawk
ResidenceHenderson, Nevada, U.S.
BornJune 28, 1940 (1940-06-28)
New York City, New York, U.S.
DiedNovember 7, 2004 (2004-11-08) (aged 64)
Henderson, Nevada, U.S.
World Series of Poker
Bracelet(s)1
Money finish(es)39
Highest ITM
Main Event finish		18th, 1997
World Poker Tour
Title(s)None
Final table(s)None
Money finish(es)2

Flaton won a World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet in 1983 in the $1,000 seven-card stud event.[2] He also finished in the money of the $10,000 no limit hold'em main event in 1986 (28th), 1988 (23rd), 1990 (31st), and 1997 (18th).[3]

Flaton won the first United States Poker Championship in 1996 and competed in the World Poker Tour (WPT).[3]

Both Flaton and his peers have suggested that seven-card stud was his best game.[4]

Flaton died in November 2004 at St. Rose Dominican Hospital – Siena Campus, aged 64.[1] He died of a heart attack, although he was suffering from lung cancer at the time, despite being a non-smoker.[5] He is survived by his wife, Crystal, and son, Aaron. Flaton often kept a picture of Aaron with him when playing in poker tournaments.[1]

His total live tournament winnings were at least $2,575,000.[6] His 39 cashes at the WSOP accounted for $568,525 of his lifetime winnings.[7]

Nickname

Flaton got his nickname, "Skyhawk", when fellow professional Stu Ungar, after seeing Flaton spread his arms and then rake in the pot while in a poker tournament, commented that Flaton "swooped down on piles of chips like a 'skyhawk.'"[1]

References
  1. "Prominent poker player 'Skyhawk' Flaton dies at 64". Las Vegas Sun. lasvegassun.com. November 9, 2004. Retrieved January 29, 2009.
  2. Butt, Robert. "$ 1,000 Limit 7 Card Stud - 14th World Series of Poker (WSOP) 1983". TheHendonMob.com. Retrieved January 29, 2009.
  3. Butt, Robert. "Ken Flaton - results". TheHendonMob.com. Retrieved January 29, 2009.
  4. "Ken Flaton's profile on The Hendon Mob". The Hendon Mob Poker Database. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
  5. "Science Strikes Again". Extempore. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
  6. Butt, Robert. "Ken Flaton - Stats". TheHendonMob.com. Retrieved January 29, 2009.
  7. "KEN 'SKYHAWK' FLATON". World Series of Poker. Retrieved November 30, 2017.
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