Gershon “jets613” Distenfeld Looking for More WSOP Success
Last December, Gershon “jets613” Distenfeld, who is in today's field after winning his table last night, was one of the finalists at the 2020 WSOP Domestic Main Event final table. He was a fan favorite because the 45-year-old pledged to donate 100% of winnings (minus any taxes) to charities of his family's choice, and he wound up finishing in eighth place for $125,885.
A professional in the finance space, Distenfeld said he simply plays poker for the challenge and competition.
“The charities I have chosen thus far encompass many of my and my wife Aviva’s personal areas of interest which include organizations with proven track records in helping those less fortunate and more vulnerable improve their lives," he said at the time.
Here's a partial list of the charities Distenfeld benefitted with his finish:
- Minds Matter – Helping driven, low-income students succeed in college, create their future and change the world.
- NCSY Relief Missions – Harnessing teen volunteers to address disaster relief and food insecurity. I named this program after my parents of blessed memory.
- Yachad - Dedicated to enhancing the life opportunities of Jewish individuals with developmental disabilities or other learning challenges.
- Project S.A.R.A.H. (Stop Abusive Relationships At Home) - working to overcome cultural, legal and religious barriers confronting victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse.
Distenfeld, 45, was born in Queens, New York but now resides in Bergenfield, New Jersey with his wife of nearly 21 years, Aviva. Together they have three daughters Shoshana (19), Talia (15), Esti (13), and one son, Aryeh (4). He graduated from Yeshiva University with a BS in Finance in 1997.
A recreational player, Distenfeld works for AllianceBernstein as co-head of Fixed Income and Director of Credit. His position has led to him being a frequent guest on Bloomberg TV and CNBC. In fact, the day after making the final table he was able to share the news to a mainstream audience by making an announcement on Bloomberg Surveillance Simulcast (at the 1:14:20 mark).
“I mainly started watching [poker] on TV in the Moneymaker era,” said Distenfeld, a passionate fan of the New York Jets and New York Rangers. “Eventually started reading/studying a lot and finally began to play in casinos. I gravitated towards tournaments over cash games. I have been going to the WSOP for a week in June for most of the past several years where I’ve played in some of the events, but this is my first Main Event.”
For Distenfeld, part of poker’s allure was the fact that he could use many of his professional skills in the game.
“I’ve studied behavioral finance a lot which has impacted how I approach the financial markets,” he explained. “I have brought that same discipline to the poker tables. Often, it isn’t how smart you are that determines your success. It’s capitalizing on the biases of others that makes you a consistent winner.”