In a tragic story that played out over the skies of New York last week, Paul “Smalls” Kitsos suffered a heart attack on a flight bound for Las Vegas, site of the 2010 World Series of Poker. Kitsos is best known for final tabling the 2008 Borgata Summer Poker Open Main Event for $103,000.
According to the New York Post newspaper, the poker enthusiast was “sweating profusely and breathing heavily” 20 minutes after takeoff from New York’s JFK Airport. He hit the flight attendant call button, but by the time the United Airlines jet returned to New York City, Kitsos had tragically passed away. The New York media outlet explained, “Kitsos was carrying more than $11,000 in cash, as well as prescription heart and ulcer medications.”
Kitsos had played poker since 2001 and took fifth in the WSOP Circuit Championship at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas for nearly $100,000. That event marked a gold ring for Cory “UGOTPZD” Carroll, who walked away with over $500,000. Kitsos cashed in the Main Event in 2006 and 2008, taking 320th the latter year for $32,000.
Kitsos’ wife, Stella Spanakos, explained to the New York Post how her husband became involved in the Great American Pastime: “He fell in love with Texas Hold’em when it became popular after 9-11. He was always a very, very sharp card player and he became addicted to it. He read a bazillion books [about it].”
On the TwoPlusTwo online poker forum, several members of the community expressed their condolences to their fallen comrade: “Life is too short people. Live life to the fullest because you never know when it is your day to go. RIP Paul,” wrote “Thurmdog.” On Kitsos’ weight, which the Post reported to be 350 pounds at a height of 5’11”, another TwoPlusTwo poster asserted, “Shame he died, but he probably lived a very unhealthy lifestyle. Maybe can bring self-awareness and be a wakeup call to other poker players who live an unhealthy lifestyle. He was 55, very important at that age for people to take health issues seriously. No one wants to see their loved one die unnecessarily when preventive steps can be taken.”
Poker players generally remain stationary for hours on end in online and live tournaments like the WSOP, which has breaks spaced out every two hours. However, without proper diet and exercise, the game can take its toll on players’ health.
Kitsos was a successful businessman in addition to being a poker player and owned KB Studio, which the Post described as “a successful women’s apparel company for full-figured women.”
What Kitsos planned to use his $11,000 in cash for remains to be seen. The $10,000 buy-in Main Event does not begin until July 5th and features four starting days. A total of 57 bracelet events make up the WSOP schedule. Nineteen winners have been minted so far, including David “Bakes” Baker, Men “The Master” Nguyen, 2009 WSOP Main Event November Niner Eric Buchman, and Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi.
We at Poker News Daily would like to express our sincerest condolences to the Kitsos family.
