Mike Kosowski, Retired NYPD Detective, Wins $1 Million Playing Poker

(Dec. 19) -- When Mike Kosowski started playing online poker after retiring from the New York Police Department in 2004, he never thought it would amount to much.

But today, he's $1 million richer, reported the New York Post.

Kosowski, who was injured as a first responder on the 9/11 terror attacks, took up the card game out of boredom.

"With my injury I was getting lethargic, out of shape," he told the Post. "My wife noticed this."

While he was watching poker on TV one day, his wife challenged him to beat Daniel Negreanu, one of the world's top poker players.

"She said, 'What do you have to do to become [a player] like that?' I said, 'I need a miracle,''" Kosowski said. "But I said, one day I'm going to play him face-to-face and I'm going to beat him."

And he did.

Kosowski got on the FOX poker game show PokerStars.net Million Dollar Challenge through a qualifying tournament on the PokerStars Web Site. In an episode that will air on FOX on Dec. 27 at 5 p.m., the retired police officer and amateur card-player takes down the pro.

Kosowski said his years on the force helped him win it all.

"I said this guy's a pro, if he gets a chance to read me he's going to pick me off," he said. "So, being a detective sergeant, I knew I couldn't let that happen."

To read the full story, visit the New York Post.