To continue our theme of great poker-related scenes and stories in the media, let’s turn now to the movies. The 1998 film “Rounders” was based on the world of underground high-stakes poker. Although not a big hit initially, the popularity of Texas hold em and other poker games gave the film, starring Matt Damon and Edward Norton, a huge cult following.
The protagonist of the film is poker player Mike McDermott (Matt Damon) , who loses all his money in a hand of Texas hold em against a Russian mobster named Teddy “KGB” (John Malkovich). Mike quits playing poker to focus on law school promising his girlfriend he’s done with gambling.
After meeting up with his old friend and fellow poker player, Worm (Ed Norton) Mike learns that Worm also lost everything at the hands of “KGB.” Mike takes a loan from his law professor so that he can get redemption and take on “KGB” once again. He eventually takes all the poker chips in two heated heads-up matches, winning enough to pay off Worm’s debt, repay his loan to the professor, and regain his original bankroll of about $30,000. The ironic ending has Mike dropping out of law school, bidding his girlfriend goodbye and going to Las Vegas to play in the World Series of Poker Main Event.
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