Josh Arieh Quits Tournament Poker

Josh Arieh may not be one of the most popular players in the poker world, but he’s certainly been one of its most successful. Since cashing in at his first tournament in 1999, the Atlanta, Georgia resident has earned an impressive $6,065,218 in live tournament earnings including 2 WSOP bracelets.
He was also a prolific internet player and had a successful online career pre-Black Friday, therefore it came as quite a surprise recently when the 37 year old announced his retirement from playing tournament poker. So what’s responsible for Arieh making such a dramatic decision? Talking to pokerlistings on the sidelines of the 2012 WSOP, the pro explained:
“I’m not thinking about it, I am [retiring from poker]. This is my last tournament until the next WSOP. To me, poker is not what it used to be. Poker is really tough. Kids got so good. Instead of poolroom hustlers and gamblers it turned into freaking geniuses. Kids that are making 1600 on the SATs.”
In fact, Josh Arieh is so convinced of his decision that he said he would be willing to take any bet that he wouldn’t be seen at a single tournament before the 2013 WSOP $10k PLO Event.
Like many poker pros Post-Black Friday, its probable that the family man has quite simply had enough of traveling the poker circuit, the expenses involved, as well as the long hours spent away from his wife (photo) and children. There is one factor that may make him change his mind, however, and that would be the re-introduction of online poker to the US.
“If poker gets legalized in the U.S. there will be another boom. It would be great again. That would make it worth what we go through.”
In the past, Josh Arieh represented  Bodog then Full Tilt Poker, and benefited from the large sums these sites threw at their sponsored pros back in the heydays. Since then the market has become much tougher, so it looks like now Arieh will probably continue playing the high-stakes cash games around Atlanta while staying away from the more visible tournament scene.