Back to the Felt: Aaron Overton Makes Deep Run After Some Time Off

By Sean Chaffin

Aaron Overton (pictured) just needed a break. He was a bit tired of the negativity and animosity he’d experienced at the tables, especially in cash games. He tries to stay positive in life and didn’t need the negative vibes.

“I took a break because I was doing well and when you do well and you play against the same players a lot in cash games,” he said, “and you start beating them a lot, they get frustrated and you kind of see the deterioration of their lives.”

“It was malicious. I mean things started out friendly, but I think when you’re playing bigger games sometimes people lose more than they should be losing, more than they’re comfortable losing.”

This summer he was back at the tables at the World Series of Poker and scored a few cashes after finishing 139th in the 2017 Main Event for $53,247. His $877,000 in career tournament earnings, includes $432,874 on the WPT. He’s had three final table finishes on the tour, with his best score coming in Season XIII at the WPT Borgata Poker Open where he finished fourth for $259,012.

During his time away from the game, the 36-year-old traveled to Italy for his sister’s wedding and to visit his brother, who’s finishing a doctorate in Milan. He also enjoyed touring Venice and Florence. When not playing cards, Overton also enjoys snowboarding in Colorado and other locations.

Now back playing at the WPT Maryland, he made a deep run on Day 3. While he ultimately finished 16th for $17,578, he’s also now thinking of other avenues to explore outside the game.

“Ultimately I want to get out of poker,” he says. “I think poker has taken me as far as it can from an intellectual perspective and a growth perspective.”

Losing players’ bad attitudes in high stakes games toward winners can be frustrating, he says, and can often have a lack of respect for others at the table. When he experiences this, Overton tries to “kill ‘em with kindness.”

“For example, yesterday there was a player who took out his frustration on me at the table in a malicious way and I just was the bigger person the entire time, and just showed him kindness and eventually came around to liking me,” he says. “There are a lot of sore losers and poor sports in poker.”

Overton’s girlfriend is finishing her residency as a doctor and he sees some changes in his future, just not exactly sure what’s in store quite yet.

“I’ve been trying to figure out what’s next for me,” he says. “I’ve definitely been doing some soul searching and trying to figure out my creative side. I might be moving in a year or two. I’d love to start some sort of business, I’m just not sure what I’m passionate about right now because I have a lot of interests. But sometimes it’s challenging to find an interest that aligns with monetization of that interest.”

Away from the tables, one thing he’s proud of is his involvement with is the Saved Me Adoption Center in Philadelphia, a facility that saves animals from euthanasia at other shelters. The center provides medical care, shelter, food, and a safe environment for pets in need of a home.

Overton serves as a volunteer and board member, and even ran a charity poker tournament to help support the group. While he may have experienced some negativity in the game of late, he’s also tried to use poker to bring people together for a good cause and spread some love.

Sean Chaffin is a freelance writer in Crandall, Texas, and host of the True Gambling Stories podcast. Follow him on Twitter at @PokerTraditions.