Before Alan Sass started playing poker he bought and sold collectibles online. That’s where he discovered that he could play Texas Hold ‘em in online sit-n-go tournaments. After playing successfully for a while, Alan went on to online cash games and live tournaments. He started playing poker at the Commerce Casino after his cousins turned him on to the World Poker Tour on television. He found it easier to read his opponents in live games. Alan thinks some live pros may consider internet players cocky but he has a good reputation with live players because he tries to be humble and learn at the tables.

Alan says that while he was learning he played awful, but that he honed his game playing tight and still managed to win some money. His desire to learn caused him to buy a bunch of poker books and study them. He thinks that he’s done well because he has a good memory for players, is adaptive to the table he’s playing and has disciplined himself to manage his bankroll.

He takes his nickname “The Usher” from the cable television show Carnivale. Sass says he chose it when he was playing online because the character appeared to be nice, but was murderous. At the table, he plans on how he can pick off each of the players till he wins. Alan has the support of his family and friends and says that for him, winning a World Poker Tour title is more important to him than winning money. He’s been doing plenty of that, cashing in seven World Poker Tour tournaments and six WSOP events, bring his career winnings to nearly half a million dollars and growing.