Stuart Pfeifer, Former Los Angeles Times Reporter, Loses Job but Wins World Series of Poker

Losing a job is the worst. In an instant your world goes from 'hmm, I wonder what's for lunch today' to 'OMG, I can't even afford a bagel.' Your life spirals into a scary world of unknown greeted by infinite feelings of stress and anxiety. And yet, this is a reality many people face at one point in life or another. Take Stuart Pfeifer, for example. The 51-year-old had been a Los Angeles Times reporter for 15 years before taking a buyout last month, ending his 28-year-long career in the field. A life altering moment, for sure. But perhaps not in the way he thought. Pfeifer--in a decision aided by his loss of employment--decided to enter a poker tournament. He bested 1,000 players and won $55,110.

This wasn't a fluke, though. Pfeifer has invested a large amount of his time in the sport. He's read basically every book on poker out there, and often falls asleep watching training videos. After the final card was dealt, all the hard work weighed heavy on his emotions.

"The emotion that I'm feeling has to do with the amount of work that I've put into this game seriously for like the last five years," he said after his big win, via WSOP.com. "I fall asleep most nights watching training videos, I belong to a poker study group that includes some of the best players in Los Angeles, I've read virtually every poker book you can imagine, and I've spent countless hours going over hands with my best friends and all of that work culminating in this ring, it almost became too much for me to handle."

Considering where Pfeifer was just weeks before, the month of December has turned out to be pretty spectacular--unbelievable, even.

"With the month of December being off, I've decided to devote this whole month to playing the whole series at the Bike," Pfeifer said, via WSOP.com. "It's worked out unbelievably."

And while Pfeifer has proven to be a prominent poker player with a mind for cards, he doesn't see it as a career. He has already found his next job--a position in public relations. The money does come at a good time, though. Aside from being temporarily unemployed, Pfeifer has a wedding coming up.

"I'm so happy at this time of my life," said Pfeifer, via WSOP.com. "Starting a new career, getting married and winning my first significant poker tournament. I just couldn't ask for more."

In honor of Pfeifer's major life win, here's 'We are the Champions,' by Queen: