Chris Ferguson

The man can certainly throw a card. He can play them fairly well, too, and has the World Series of Poker championship bracelet to prove it.

Chris "Jesus" Ferguson

Chris Ferguson is a smart guy. He knew that if he came to the poker table as a computer geek, a college student and a swing dancer, he wouldn't get nearly the kind of respect he wanted from his opponents than if he came to the table as a tough guy. The hat, the glasses, the black suits and the long hair and beard are all for effect, just one of the many ways that Chris puts his big brain to work in dominating the game of poker.

With a father who teaches game theory at the collegiate level it certainly is no surprise that Chris would grow up playing games, a hobby that soon became a profession. His other profession- student- has given him plenty of back up with a Ph.D. in computer science (artificial intelligence, anyone?). Don't bother teasing him that he spent 18 years taking classes along the way, he won't care. And he's never needed that education to pay the bills, not after he won the World Series of Poker in 2000, grabbing up a $1.5 million payday.

Chris put his grey matter to good use in coming up with his image at the table, one that serves a number of purposes. It makes him instantly recognizable-- and brand-able, which helps keep him on the top of the business side of poker. It helps to conceal his face which, along with a measured pace at the table, prevents other players from getting an easy read on him. And it allows him to take off the hat, coat and glasses and go lead a (relatively) normal life away from the cameras and the poker table.

Chris is one of our favorite characters in the world of poker, and the first choice for a ProBot conversion. His image as a lethal player, coupled with his card throwing ability (Chris can chop fruit at ten paces with regular playing cards) were the inspiration for the Card Slinger ProBot.