- More than $360K in Career Tournament Earnings
- Instructor for Team Limpers
Francois plays online at Full Tilt Poker.
Francois Balmigere describes poker as “a betting game first – a card game second”. The French native built his success on this philosophy, after delving into the theoretical side of poker while studying Mathematics at Toulouse University.
Initially, poker was no more than a hobby for Francois but it became a serious pursuit once he started to receive professional coaching. This coaching, coupled with his analytical and naturally curious mind, enabled him to forge a career as a successful poker pro.
Having built a fearsome reputation online, Francois took his game to the live tournament circuit in 2007, making his first WSOP cash in the $5,000 No-Limit Hold ‘em Six-Handed event for over $13,000.
But it was in 2009 that Francois first took the poker world by storm. His 25th place finish in the WSOP Main Event earned him over $350,000 and firmly stamped his place among poker’s elite.
Francois now splits his time between playing poker and working as an instructor for Team Limpers – a group of French poker professionals who offer their expertise to players looking to learn the game. “I live the life of a poker player,” he says. “I find myself spending my year travelling around the world. But, since you do have to stop moving on occasion, I spend a lot of my time in my place in London.”
While he is proficient in all forms of poker – from Sit & Gos to ring games, and from Pot-Limit Omaha to Badugi – his preference is Texas Hold ‘em. From years of being coached, and of coaching others, he has developed a motto that sums up his methodical attitude: “Learn to play the game – don’t try to win, try to play well.”
Away from the tables, Francois enjoys reading, watching TV, swimming and diving.
Look for Francois online at Full Tilt Poker.
