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Ylon Schwartz
Ylon Schwartz is a professional poker player and chess expert from Brooklyn, NY. He finished fourth in the 2008 No Limit Hold 'Em Main Event; prior to that tournament, he'd had eleven WSOP cash finishes. He plays online poker under the username "TenthPlanet".
As a teen, Schwartz saw people playing chess in Washington Square Park, and in his first victory, he won two dollars. He was soon a regular on the park's chess scene, making upwards of $100 daily on his wagers. As an only child in Manhattan, he was a mediocre student (dropping out of college after a year). After he ended his college career, he worked various jobs. He started playing chess to make a little money on the side, soon devoting all his time to gambling on chess, darts, horses and backgammon.
Ylon Schwartz is a true gambler; he made over $340 from strangers on bets that he'd be able to throw a lemon across the street and onto the top of a Burger King restaurant. He was introduced by "Fat Nick" to the game of Texas Hold 'Em, and he entered two tournaments at Fat Nick's club in 2000. He won both, earning $12,000 and a new career. Schwartz compares his poker experience to that he gained playing chess, and he says that chess' strategy provides him with the knowledge he needs to bet well.
Ylon Schwartz spent much of his twenties taking care of his mother, who was diagnosed with terminal cancer and died in 2003. His father left the family when Ylon was two, and he made various attempts to contact his son over the years, none of which panned out.
Before Schwartz's win at the 2008 WSOP Main Event, his biggest win was at the World Poker Finals' no-limit hold 'em $500 event. He finished third there, winning $49,960. As of 2010, he has won over $4,200,000; over $4,100,000 has come from his cash wins at the WSOP. Ylon Schwartz currently lives in Austin, Texas.