Gabe Costner is a born-and-raised Southern boy. He was born in Albertville, Alabama and lived in Alabama until an eventual move to Long Beach, Mississippi. He made a living for some time as a financial advisor before discovering that his poker skills had been honed enough by many years of playing the game on a casual basis to take it to another level.

Eventually, Gabe took his cash game abilities to the tables and was able to make an enjoyable living at it. He quit his job as a financial advisor to play poker on a full-time basis. With the Beau Rivage in Biloxi fairly close to home, it was an easy decision to make. And while cash games were where his passion lied, the thought of tournaments became intriguing. In November of 2007, he won his first event – the $230 no-limit hold’em event at the IP in Biloxi.

Several weeks later, he tried again at the Harrah’s WSOP Circuit event in New Orleans, and he finished in ninth place. After the holidays, he tried again, this time at a higher level. He played in his first World Poker Tour event in Tunica. By navigating his way through the field at the World Poker Open, he ended up at the final table of the WPT event. When all was said and done, he finished in fifth place for a $123,008 payday. Though he has every intention of remaining a cash game player, he may have to dip into his newly-increased bankroll and take his chance on another tournament.