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Published
Jul 24 2007, 02:35 AM
This week's Podcast features an in-depth interview with top-ranked online tournament player Adam Junglen (A_Junglen, PocketFives.com Online Tournament Player Ranking #97).
The month of July has been a career best for young superstar Adam Junglen, who placed 2nd in the FullTiltPoker $1k tournament, then 2nd in a Stars $100 Rebuy. Most players would be extremely satisfied with such large cashes, but A_Junglen had an even bigger accomplishment in mind... winning the PokerStars Million outright. Over $250,000 in profit in one month has quickly placed Adam among the Top 100 online tournament players in the world.
However, poker accomplishments aren't everything. After being born with lower body complications and quickly moving into foster care, Adam quickly learned to use any negative feelings to fuel his competitiveness. A successful Magic: The Gathering player, a professional magician at the age of 9, and a high-school baseball player, Adam Junglen thrived in atmospheres that appreciated talent. But after dozens of unsuccessful operations, it was decided during his Junior year in high school that an amputation was the best course of action.
While his teenage peers were concerning themselves with typical high school activities, Mr. Junglen was going through an extremely painful rehabilitation and attempting to walk on a prosthetic leg. After months of unbearable pain, new x-rays showed the operation had caused more problems, so Adam's Senior year was spent recovering from yet another surgery. Fortunately, that procedure was successful, and he's now able to walk on crutches without the pain he experienced previously. In a poker world where players continuously complain about bad beats, Adam's story is an instant reminder to those of us who are the true "lucksacks".