Matthew Salsberg, a well-known name in the poker community, has been battling cancer for the past 18 months. Despite his diagnosis, the pro continues his poker journey as he finds poker as a saver for life. He is a poker veteran cashing live tournaments since 2004. He recently clinched his first-ever circuit ring, winning the WSOP Circuit Los Angeles Main Event for a staggering $286,314 in November.
Salsberg, a WPT regular, also earned the WPT Season 11 Player of the Year award for his remarkable performance between 2012 and 2013. During that period, he won the 2012 WPT Grand Prix de Paris, made final table finishes at the 2013 WPT Borgata and WPT Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood, and scored deep runs in other WPT tournaments.
Although Salsberg began his poker tournament career in 2004, 2012 marked a breakthrough year both in poker and his professional life, as his hit series Weeds concluded with its 8th season. After the show’s finale, Salsberg shifted his focus to poker. However, as the poker world shut down in 2020, Salsberg took a three-year break, during which he received devastating news.
In an interview with WPT, Matt Salsberg revealed that he has been battling colon cancer for the past four years. “For the last four years, since COVID started, I’ve been in a colon cancer battle,” Salsberg shared. Colon cancer, or colorectal cancer, is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men and the fourth in women.
Salsberg emphasized the importance of early screenings, particularly for poker players. Colonoscopies serve as a vital preventative measure that can detect colon cancer early and save lives.
While Matt Salsberg initially kept his diagnosis private, he is now speaking out to raise awareness. “A lot of people know about what I’ve gone through with my health, but I haven’t publicly really gone and talked about it,” he told WPT. “But I do think that it’s important because if I can help anybody stave off what I had to go through, then, you know, maybe it’ll be worth it.”
“Get them in your 30s and 40s, because if things are late, then your situation and your life just completely change. And it’s terrifying because it’s not a cancer that’s easily treatable,” Salsberg urged.
Salsberg returned to the poker world in 2023, achieving several deep finishes, including a cash finish at the WSOP Main Event. He will continue to compete in 2024. Most recently, he won the WSOPC Main Event (Ring Event #11) in Las Vegas, claiming $ 286,314 for his victory.
Wrapping up the interview, Salsberg reflected on how poker gave him a sense of purpose and structure during his battle.
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