Almost ten years ago to the day, Kane Kalas earned the largest cash of his career at the Borgata Poker Open and finished runner-up to a familiar foe – Darren Elias. He arrived for Day 2 of the $3,500 2024 Borgata Poker Open Main Event on Sunday a much different player than he was a decade ago.
“I don’t play for living anymore, so when I do get to play, I’m having more fun,” Kalas said. “Which is a good thing, but the bad thing is that I don’t really need it (the grind) so I don’t travel to all the stops.”
Kalas knocked off the ring rust on Saturday by playing for the first time since the World Series of Poker. “It always takes a little bit of work to get my poker brain rolling again after taking some time off.”
Home field advantage?
As a native East Coaster, he cut his teeth against players like Elias, Joe McKeehen and Aaron Mermelstein. “For years I didn’t believe in home field advantage but then Darren, Joe and I used to final table all this stuff,” Kalas said. “Most of us didn’t do as well on the West Coast and I started to believe in it a little bit.”
He’s grown into a true Renaissance Man since his second-place finish, between investing and playing the stock market he recorded an album, “High Hopes” in 2023. Kalas inherited his smooth baritone voice from his father – the legendary Phillies broadcaster Harry Kalas.
Kane is a classically trained singer with an operatic delivery and sings “The Star-Spangled Banner” for the Phillies’ at Citizen’s Bank Park on Opening Day and playoff games. His album is a collection of songs from America’s Golden Age of crooners.
'You can't hate any team more than the Mets'
The Phillies are having a banner season and leading their division rivals the Mets and Braves. He’s looking forward to the playoffs and caught a game on Friday. “I think the Braves are a better team, so I’d rather face the Mets (in October). You can’t hate any team more than the Mets, you know?”
Kalas got to sing at the World Series in 2022 and hopes for a repeat performance. “As long as the Phillies are there, I’d love to do it again. I’d love to go all the way.”
When pressed, Kalas would rather face a tough room singing than a tough table. “I can turn around a room of people sitting on their hands,” he said. “Give me the tough room and I’ll get them up and I’ll avoid the tough poker table for a soft one.”
