Lee Markholt

Lee Markholt Jr. (born May 24, 1963 in Tacoma, Washington) is a professional poker player from Eatonville, Washington. He previously worked as a meat cutter for a family business and has been playing poker professionally for more than 13 years.[1]

Markholt's first major win came on the Professional Poker Tour when he won the Five Star World Poker Classic in 2005. He has had success in both the World Series of Poker and the World Poker Tour in his career. He has 10 career WSOP cashes, including four final tables.[1] He has cashed 15 times in the WPT, including six cashes each in Season 5 and Season 6. He reached his first WPT final table at the World Poker Challenge in 2008, claiming his first WPT title and the $493,815 first prize.

Markholt mostly plays at New Sonny's Casino in Federal Way, Washington.[2]

As of 2017, his total live tournament winnings exceed $4,000,000

In the summer of 2018 Lee played a cash session in Vegas with Florida whale, Nathaniel Palombo. Nate had been drinking heavily all night with Scotty Ngyuen and was quoted later saying “I couldn’t even see my cards”. The session ended with Nate and Lee playing a hand where Lee 5bet his Pocket Aces, and Nate made the decision to bluff all in for $21,000 with 45 off suit. Nate’s friend and fellow whale, Brandon, begged Nate not to do it as he sloppily shipped his entire stack of chips into the middle. Lee obvsiouly called, and Nate never saw that money again. This pot goes down as the easiest 20k Lee ever made in his long illustrious career.[3]