Circle us on Google + YouTube

About The Author

Michael Craig
Michael Craig Headshot

is the Editor-in-Chief of EpicPoker.com and has written about poker since 2005.

His first poker book, The Professor, the Banker, and the Suicide King: Inside the Richest Poker Game of All Time (Warner 2005), has sold over 60,000 copies after more than a dozen printings in hardcover and paperback.

It was selected Book-of-the-Month by Sports Illustrated (“insight into the pressure-cooker atmosphere of a big-money card room”) and Texas Monthly (“a detailed account of the big money hold ‘em experiences of Texas banker Andy Beal”) and called, by The New York Review of Books, “a fascinating account of what happened.”

His second poker book, which he edited and wrote with a dozen poker professionals, The Full Tilt Poker Strategy Guide: Tournament Edition (Grand Central 2007) is in its sixth printing. As evidence of the poker skills revealed within, Michael points to the nearly $1 million he earned in live and online poker tournaments, along with three World Series of Poker final tables, since its publication.

Craig has also written memorable feature articles and columns for Card Player and Bluff, and written over 1,000,000 words in 4 years for The Full Tilt Poker Blog by Michael Craig.

Before writing about poker, Michael Craig graduated with a B.A. in History from Wayne State University and a J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School, where he was Editor-in-Chief of the University of Michigan Journal of Law Reform. For twenty years, he was a member of the Illinois, Northern District of Illinois, and Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals bars, during most of which time he was a founding partner in a law firm focusing on financial and securities class-action litigation.

He retired from active law practice in 2000, wrote a pair of books about business and finance, and published articles in Cigar Aficionado, Penthouse, American Spectator, Golf, T & L Golf, Golf Connoisseur, Online Investor, and Business 2.0.

He lives with his family in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Recent Posts
More Posts
Most Viewed Most Commented

Related Videos

Mike Matusow: Phil Hellmuth
Mike Matusow: Phil Hellmuth
1:16

Rating:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Mike Matusow: 2005 World Series of Poker
Mike Matusow: 2005 World Series of Poker
:44

Rating:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Justin Bonomo: Friends in Poker
Justin Bonomo: Friends in Poker
:50

Rating:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
More Videos

Epic Poker League Standards & Conduct Committee Indefinitely Suspends Howard Lederer and Chris Ferguson

September 21 2011, Michael Craig
6

Topics: Epic Poker League, Howard Lederer, Chris Ferguson, Standards and Conduct Committee, Full Tilt Poker [+]

On Tuesday, following the U.S. Attorney’s filing of an Amended Complaint in the federal civil action pending in connection with the April 15th 2011 indictments, Epic Poker League’s Standards & Conduct Committee indefinitely suspended League members Howard Lederer and Chris Ferguson. The Amended Complaint named Lederer and Ferguson as defendants, specifically in relation to their roles as directors of Full Tilt Poker from April 2007 to April 2011. Committee Chairman Stephen Martin said, “The Committee voted to suspend Howard Lederer and Chris Ferguson indefinitely, pending the outcome of the Department of Justice’s action.” Martin, a former federal prosecutor, serves as the Independent Ethics Advisor to Epic Poker.

Martin emphasized the following factors in the Committee’s decision:

(1) Although the Amended Complaint constitutes a civil, and not criminal, action and facts are alleged but not yet proven, “the specificity of the allegations and the fact they came from the United States government made this the right course of action in the best interests of the players in the League.”

(2) “The government chose to name Howard Lederer and Chris Ferguson individually in their roles as members of the board of directors Full Tilt.”

(3) The Committee will continue to monitor the legal actions. “If other members are named in the actions, the Committee will consider additional disciplinary action.”

The Committee’s jurisdiction is based on Player Disciplinary Policy and the Players’ Code of Conduct. Howard Lederer, who has signed those documents and is a 5-year cardholder, is indefinitely suspended. Chris Ferguson, who has not yet signed League documents but is eligible for a 5-year card, has also been suspended.  Neither Howard Lederer nor Chris Ferguson has yet to play in an Epic Poker League event.

Committee member Andy Bloch recused himself from consideration of the issue. Commissioner Annie Duke, while a non-voting member of the committee, does not participate in any committee decisions or discussions that involve league member discipline.

The Notice of Disciplinary Action of September 20, 2011 appears on EpicPoker.com’s Standards & Conduct page. http://www.epicpoker.com/events/standards-and-conduct.aspx

Comments

More

New User / Returning User

First time? A confirmation email will be sent to you after submitting.

Sorry, there was a problem:

At least 8 letters
*Your Email will not be shown
Add Comment

Returning user? Enter your email and password.

Sorry, there was a problem:

Add Comment Forgot Password?