Heidi Northcott, Poker Player

by Jennifer Newell

Some players simply fall into poker by a random circumstance. But the game can draw people in further and offer opportunities that many would not have known existed. Such has been the case for Heidi Northcott.

Born on January 15, 1980, Northcott is the epitome of a California girl, living the life in Los Angeles, California as a 5' 3" blonde woman with green eyes and stunning looks. But her business mind drew her to the University of Southern California (USC), from whence she entered the corporate world by becoming the vice-president of business development for High Traffic Media. The online marketing company provides solutions for those looking to produce results for agencies and advertising media buyers.

Northcott found poker through her long-time dating relationship with former professional baseball player Jose Canseco, who has been an avid poker player for a number of years. She, too, found she had a knack for the game when she played in the Larry Flynt Challenge Cup in January of 2008. The $300 buy-in no-limit hold'em event in Gardena, California found Northcott running well, and she ultimately finished in 18th place for a $500 payday. From there, she began calling herself a professional poker player, though her experiences with poker date back to March of 2007.

She also gained notoriety through her association with Canseco as she appeared in a 2008 A&E televised documentary called Jose Canseco: Last Shot, at which point they were revealed to be in a relationship. Since that time, however, Northcott entered a new partnership with UFC former light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell, who also happens to enjoy poker games and tournaments when his schedule permits.

Northcott also became famous for a nude workout video that she participated in with Liddell. It was part of an advertisement for Reebok, and she and Liddell are shown exercising - she on the Stairmaster and he performing pull-ups and squats - without clothing but not seeming to notice each other's nudity.

With no-limit Texas hold'em as her favorite game and poker listed as one of her professions, Northcott will surely become more visible in the poker world in the years to come.

Read Heidi Northcott's Profile for more information including her tournament results and total winnings.

More Poker Biographies | Player Profiles

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Jennifer Newell is a freelance writer, originally from St. Louis but now living in Los Angeles. She fell in love with poker while working at WPT and began writing about it in 2005.