World Series of Poker Academy

Biography

Jim Shipley, better known as Ships, grew up near Atlanta, Georgia. Poker became a passion in his early years, as his first exposure to the game came at the hands of his parents who hosted a weekly card game at their home. Ships then began playing cards with neighborhood friends, a hobby that continued into his college years. It was during his college years, Ships received a Bachelors Degree from the University of Georgia, that poker became a constant part of his life and the stakes were continually raised. Ships played baseball while in college, where some form of poker was always being played while in the dorms or during road trips.

Out of college and employed as a medical sales representative, Ships’ interest in poker grew after watching Chris Moneymaker win the 2003 WSOP Main Event. It was then that he created his first online poker account at PokerStars, though his first few deposits weren’t profitable ventures. But intent upon taking the game more seriously, he purchased a copy of Doyle Brunson’s “Super System,” which prompted him to begin dissecting his poker game and implementing a better winning strategy. His ROI immediately increased, which translated into longer online poker sessions, sometimes up to 20 hours at a time. As a profitable poker player, Ships decided to move to Las Vegas in 2006 and pursue poker as a career, which started in tournaments but soon moved to cash games.

Ships has been making a living as a cash game player in Las Vegas since that time, though the occasional tournament has brought about some success with two televised final table appearances at the Ultimate Poker Challenge (UPC) events. Through constant study of the game, his tight aggressive playing style, and the ability to switch gears, Ships has achieved poker success and continues to strive for greater heights as he plays and educates others about the finer points of poker.