In some families the father passes cherished heirlooms', like a watch or a wedding band, down to his son. Other patriarchs may pass on the secrets of a good fast ball to their offspring. There is the occasional family where dirty laundry and fire arms are all that gets passed off from father to son, but those types of families are best avoided. In the case of Mel Judah, the game of poker is what his dad had to impart to him. Like a kid who learns early that what you do with your feet is just as important to throwing a ball as is your arm, Mel learned the fundamentals of the game and has successfully applied those early lessons in his adult life.
Mr. Judah developed an almost frustratingly pragmatic style of poker. Over his career this approach to the game has not only won him countless, anonymous hands, but has gotten him an impressive number of high profile tournament victories, including a pair of WSOP bracelets. He won his first in 1989, than again 8 years later in 1997. Both championships were at the game of Seven Card Stud. He is far from a one trick pony though. Though Seven Card Stud may appear to be his signature game, he is also a well respected Hold'em player. In 1997 he missed the Main Event Championship in No-Limit Hold'em by a hair, eventually settling for third place. His victories are a testament to the idea of solid play trumping luck over the long haul. Things have gone well for the Calcutta born, former ladies hairdresser. When he is not home in London, with his wife and two children, he is stalking the tournament circuit. There is no reason to believe that as Mel will not continue to be a serious threat at every table he appears at.
