Curt Kohlberg & His Stellar Poker Skills

Curt Kohlberg has always been fond of poker ever since he was in college. He studied at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and during his freshman year, he was already playing like a professional poker player. The types of poker games where he used to excel most were seven-card stud and five-card draw games. Despite being serious in playing poker at such an early age, Curt Kohlberg had always been an ideal college student. As a matter of fact, he achieved an above-average rating at the Isenberg School of Management. Furthermore, he excelled in sports as well, winning in the championship games of paddleball and racquetball. He was also a sports journalist of the "Daily Collegian" at that time and was also engaged in his own T-shirt business.

After graduating from college, Curt Kohlberg obtained further studies at the Sloan School of Management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. During his years in graduate school, he realized that he could not play poker as often as before anymore. Although he loved poker so much, Curt Kohlberg made sure that he preferred to finish his studies. And so, he obtained his master's degree and become employed in large financial institutions.

Being involved in the financial services industry and having a family of his own prevented Curt Kohlberg from playing poker all the more. He became separated then with his estranged wife, taking their son with her. It shattered his life but never lost focus on his career. Gratefully, he became married again and this time, he married a colleague at the University of Massachusetts Amherst named Allegra Manacher.

The marriage of Curt Kohlberg to Manacher seemed to really be a blessing. He did not only become inspired to work harder but he also started to have the time to play poker. Manacher encouraged him to start participating in major poker events and so, he went to the Foxwoods Casino to join a US$500 Buy-In Tournament for a Seven Card Stud game in 1997. When he won the game, he realized that he did not lose his poker skills in spite of being unattached from the poker world for a long time. This prompted him to play again after three days to participate in a final event of the World Poker Tour that was held at the Connecticut Casino. Curt Kohlberg once again emerged triumphant as he took home US$130,000.

Curt Kohlberg says that he did not have any intention of becoming a poker professional. He just wanted to play poker for fun. Nonetheless, when he started to win in major poker tournaments, he realized that more than anything else, the ability of earning the respect of poker giants is what he really wants to achieve.

Now, Curt Kohlberg can say that he has a successful life. He is not only successful as a professional poker player but is also successful as a husband to Manacher, a father to their two daughters and to his son from his previous marriage. His son now lives with him and his family in Weston.