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Local poker phenom heads for Bahamas to build on success

Travis Klein is living the Ace of Spades dream.

Just after New Year's, he's jetting off to The Bahamas, all expenses paid, to try his hand against some of the world's best poker players after winning an online poker tournament earlier this year. But in the States, Klein isn't sharing martinis, shaken or otherwise, with his poker partners - he's only 18 years old, a freshman studying business at Florida State University.

He's been playing since he was 10, he said. And already, poker is providing him with an income "in the mid-five figures."

But Klein still manages to stay grounded.

"I've never gone over my head," he said. "I take it easy, so I don't go busto."

The PokerStars Caribbean Adventure tournament, whi-ch runs from January 5 through January 10, is an officially sanctioned World Poker Tour event.

About 750 people are expected to compete, but only six will remain for the final table January 10, according to Matt Marcus, a public relations representative for PokerStars.

Last year's champion won $1.3 million, Marcus said.

Klein said he hopes to finish in the Top 40, but he won big already: the trip has a $12,000 value, including the $8,000 entry fee to the tournament.

And even though he'll be playing 10 hours of poker a day, he's looking forward to the trip as well.

"The Bahamas is definitely a part of it," he said. "It'll be a fun time."

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Local poker phenom heads for Bahamas to build on success Travis Klein is living the Ace of Spades dream. Just after New Year's, he's jetting off to The Bahamas, all expenses paid, to try his hand against some of the world's best poker players after winning an online poker tournament earlier this year. But in the States, Klein isn't sharing martinis, shaken or otherwise, with his poker partners - he's only 18 years old, a freshman studying business at Florida State University. He's been playing since he was 10, he said. And already, poker is providing him with an income "in the mid-five figures." But Klein still manages to stay grounded. "I've never gone over my head," he said. "I take it easy, so I don't go busto." The PokerStars Caribbean Adventure tournament, whi-ch runs from January 5 through January 10, is an officially sanctioned World Poker Tour event. About 750 people are expected to compete, but only six will remain for the final table January 10, according to Matt Marcus, a public relations representative for PokerStars. Last year's champion won $1.3 million, Marcus said. Klein said he hopes to finish in the Top 40, but he won big already: the trip has a $12,000 value, including the $8,000 entry fee to the tournament. And even though he'll be playing 10 hours of poker a day, he's looking forward to the trip as well. "The Bahamas is definitely a part of it," he said. "It'll be a fun time."