As it started for many of today’s newcomers to the poker scene, Kofi Farkye’s interest in poker was sparked by watching the World Poker on television. In high school, he watched players like Phil Ivey and other WPT final table players with fascination, enough so that he began learning the inner workings of the game. He began playing poker with friends in home games and deposited some starting funds at an online poker site.

As Kofi began sharpening his skills online, he rather quickly became a winning and well-known player. When he turned eighteen, while attending San Diego State University as a business major, he made the decision to try his hand at live poker. Since the legal age for players at Indian casinos in California was 18, he began frequenting Barona in Viejas. He found that he could also be a successful player in live games, but it was his age that was holding him back from playing in many places. When he turned 19, however, he took occasional trips to play in Canada, where 19 was the legal age. That’s where he met the World Poker Tour.

In October of 2007, Kofi entered the WPT’s North American Poker Championship. Playing his A-game all the way through the massive field of 504 players, he found himself at the final table with names like Barry Greenstein, Jonathan Little, and Scott Clements. Though he finished in fifth place, the payout was more than a quarter of a million dollars, which would come in handy for the college student. As he continues to work his way to graduation from San Diego State, he continues to play online – and live when his schedule permits. By the time he turns 21 and graduates from school, Kofi may have more time on his hands to further impress the poker world.