"Bold and Fearless" Midwest Poker Player Chris Roth Passes Away at Age 42
On January 2, Midwest poker player Chris Roth passed away after a battle with cancer. He was 42.
Born May 21, 1982, Roth graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and was well-known within the Wisconsin poker community, especially as an Omaha hi-lo player. He had amassed $402,340 in lifetime tournament earnings dating back to 2006 according to The Hendon Mob, which put him 34th on the Wisconsin all-time money list at the time of his passing.
His career-high score of $78,569 came when he finished sixth in the 2017 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Event #51: $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo. Last summer, he once again finished sixth in a WSOP tournament, this time in Event #97: $3,000 Pot-Limit Omaha for $62,457. In 2019, Roth won the Venetian DeepStack Championship Poker Series Event #38: $800 Pot-Limit Omaha 8 or Better for $30,077.
According to :
Chris loved playing basketball, bringing the same intensity and flair to the court as he did to everything else in life. He played fast and with a style that was undeniably his own, showcasing his personality and fearless spirit in every game. While at the gym, Chris enjoyed the weight room but never wasted time with a "leg day," prioritizing his glamour muscles instead—a practical and rational choice, he would argue.
Poker was one of Chris’s greatest passions and a defining part of his life. Whether it was online in the early days of internet poker, on Orchard Street in Madison, at the Potawatomi poker room in Milwaukee, or in World Series of Poker tournaments around the country, Chris’s bold and fearless personality shone at the table. Over time, the game itself became secondary to the relationships he built, as poker served as the foundation for many of his most meaningful and lasting friendships…
Whether it was through his dogs' antics or life’s unexpected moments, Chris had a remarkable ability to find humor and lightness in any situation. His deep, unmistakable laugh—so uniquely his—could change the tenor of any room, leaving those around him smiling.
Chris was unapologetically himself, living life with intensity, authenticity, and a unique style that left an impression on everyone he met. He embraced his individuality and inspired others to do the same. His legacy of laughter, loyalty, and love will live on in the countless stories and moments shared by those who were lucky enough to know him.
PokerNews offers its condolence to the friends and family of Chris Roth, who will be missed by the poker community.
