Aaron Kanter is a professional online poker player who was born in Lodi, California. He graduated from Chico State with a degree in liberal studies. He started off as a loan officer, but eventually decided to give up his job in order to devote all his time to poker. He learned a lot about the game by reading books and watching instructional videos. Aaron Kanter got his nickname “The Giant Killer” after he defeated poker heavyweights Phil Ivey and Greg Raymer in the 2005 World Series of Poker Main Event. His father, Mitch Kanter, attributes all his winnings to his talent, and not mere luck.
Aaron Kanter first stepped into the limelight in 2005, when he finished fourth at the 36th Annual WSOP Event #42 – WSOP World Championship – No-Limit Hold’em and made $2,000,000. It was a remarkable victory for this young player who went on to secure first place and $7,264 at the Speedway of Poker VII Spread Limit Hold’em in August of that year. In October 2005, he again walked away with first place and won $40,000 at the Bay 101 Open No-Limit Hold’em.
Aaron Kanter secured 19th place at the LA Poker Classic World Poker Tour Event Season 4, Event #24 – Limit Hold’em and earned an addtional $8,360 in February 2006. He also finished third and took home $4,675 at the Bay 101 Open Event #1 Omaha Hi/Lo in October 2006. In November, he came in 20th place at the Lucky Chances 7th Annual Gold Rush Tournament Shootout – Spread Limit Hold’em.
Aaron Kanter cashed in many events regularly in 2007 as well, beginning with his 48th-place finish at the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure/World Poker Tour Event Season 5, where he earned $17,787. In June, he made $13,778 at the 38th Annual WSOP No-Limit Hold’em World Championship Mixed Hold’em and ranked 32nd. Aaron Kanter also managed to secure a place within the first twenty ranks in several other events which were held between June and November. He was 18th place and pocketed $23,576 at the 38th Annual WSOP No-Limit Hold’em event. He earned an additional $1,221 by finishing 11th at the Harveys Casino Poker Tournaments WSOP Circuit Event #5. In Event #10 of the same tournament, the No-Limit Hold’em Championship, he was 12th place and bagged another $10,165.
The year 2008 has also been good to Aaron Kanter, for he has walked away in third place with $258,862 at the 39th WSOP No-Limit Hold’em in June. In the same series, he has managed to win $3,476 by finishing in 144th place in Event #7. He earned $11,626 in Event #2 and was able to secure 56th place. At the World Poker Challenge/WPT Event Season 6, Event #28 – No Limit Hold’em he worked his way to 17th place, earning $1,761. Aaron Kanter completed Event #27 of the WPT Event Season 6 in second place, bagging prize money worth $4,377. He also finished fourth in Event #3 of the WPT Event Season 6, which fetched him $2,901.
This promising poker star dreams of winning the WSOP Championship soon.
