Battling Cancer, Kevin Varnell Gifted WSOP Seat by Poker Pro Son

October 28, 2021

Jon Sofen Senior Editor U.S.

A Cool Experience
Battling Health Issues
Passion for Music

Poker pro Craig Varnell came up with a cool gift idea for his father, Kevin Varnell, who was diagnosed with brain cancer last year — a seat in WSOP Event #52: $1,000 Seniors Championship.

The elder Varnell isn't much of a poker player, unlike his son who has over $2.5 million in live tournament cashes, but he enjoys the game recreationally and was thrilled to receive such a generous offer.

Varnell, who lives in Denver, Colorado, is a 65-year-old retired United Airlines mechanic. Last summer, he went to the doctor where he discovered some uneasy news.

"They did an MRI and found a tumor the size of a golf ball in my brain," he told PokerNews moments after his elimination from the Seniors event.

A Cool Experience

Speaking of that Seniors event, Varnell competed in the Day 1a flight on Wednesday. He arrived at his seat in the Rio Convention Center's Pavilion room at 10 a.m., right on time. Unfortunately, for the ill but upbeat beginner poker player, he didn't last long. He was eliminated from the tournament shortly before the first break on Day 1.

"Boy, I didn't even make it to the break," Varnell said with a sigh as he overheard the tournament director announce the first break seated near the table where he lost his stack.

Playing in the tournament, however, wasn't about winning or losing for Varnell. He'd never competed in a WSOP event, or any major poker tournament, and he was up against some great players in the Seniors event. The experience of coming out to Vegas to play in a big tournament was most important, and he was thankful that his son got him into the game.

"It was enjoyable, it was fun," Varnell said of his first-ever poker tournament.

Being that Varnell isn't a huge fan of poker and rarely plays, he doesn't have a lengthy list of favorite poker players. But he does have a couple of pros he's quite fond of, none more so than his son, Craig, of course.

"Doyle Brunson is the one I'd love to meet," Varnell said. "He's a gentleman."

Battling Health Issues

Varnell doesn't get around as easily as he did when he was younger, but he isn't a homebody either. He was quick to note that the walk from his Rio hotel room to the convention center was quite the hike.

"I'm an old fat man, so it's hard for me to do that seven-mile walk," he joked.

It's not quite seven miles, or even one mile, but he's also admittedly no spring chicken. He walks with a pair of trekking poles to support his balance, and he's been going to a doctor twice a week for the past 15 months.

On July 17, 2020, he was first diagnosed with brain cancer. He recalls the date vividly. He showed a picture of his MRI, which indicated a tumor the size of a golf ball. Varnell's condition is severe, forcing him to get checked out by a doctor regularly. But the positive is that the disease isn't terminal at this point.

When speaking with Varnell, it's clear he has a positive mindset and likes to joke around. Varnell is engaged to a woman he speaks quite fondly of. He praised her for sticking with him following the cancer diagnosis.

Passion for Music

Varnell's true passions are fishing and music. He owns an impressive guitar collection and used to play in a band back in his younger days. The guitar he most cherishes was personally autographed twice by Les Paul, his favorite guitarist.

kevin varnell les paul — A much younger Kevin Varnell with guitarist Les Paul in 1993.

Less than a month prior to his cancer diagnosis, Varnell retired from the airline industry. Just his luck, he acknowledged, as soon as he was excited to enjoy his golden years, he became ill.

"I've been trying to go fishing, but mostly I've been going to doctors all the damn time," Varnell said of what he's been up to since retiring. "That's basically it is doctors."

This week, however, he got to escape his regular routine thanks to the generosity of his son. Instead of spending his days at the doctor, he played some poker and enjoyed the city of Las Vegas.

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