To all my fans and supporters:

After much contemplation and speculation about my future, I have decided to officially retire from my professional poker career. I have spent the past weeks discussing the decision with my closest friends and family and it is with their blessing that I will call last evening’s LIVE episode of “Strong-Arm Poker” (Season 2, Episode 12) my final appearance on the program.

There has been much speculation of the possibility of me appearing on NBC’s “Poker After Dark” or entering the “World Series of Poker” tour. I regretfully confirm that none of these rumors are true. I know that I can still play, and I know that I still have gas left in the tank but I’m just not sure that I want to any longer.

I want to thank all of my fans for their unwavering support — there are really no better fans in all of professional late-night internet-streamed poker. I have truly been blessed.

Everyone has asked what I plan to do with all of my extra free time in the event that I should retire — to those people I say that I shall spend more time with my family and perhaps more time on my tractor doing various simple farm tasks.

What’s next for Raji? Even I don’t have an answer for you. Nobody can ever really know what their future holds, but finding another opportunity anywhere near as fulfilling as “Strong-Arm Poker” would be hard to do. I hope wherever my path takes me contains beer and good old-fashioned tom foolery.

Most sincerely yours,

Raji Alowairdi

(AP-Eau Claire, WI)  Sources to remain unnamed have reported that Raji Alowairdi and long-time poker pal and confidant Duane Wolter III have been having secret meetings in which the now-retired Alowairdi has talked about his desperate attempts to fill his life with things other than poker. Our source tells us that Raji has been quoted on saying “… I have no idea what the right move is right now for me. I may or may not have the itch to play”.

   As you may recall Alowairdi was photographed last week at a local senior center playing cribbage during “game time” last Sunday morning around 9:00am. Our unnamed source tells us that “he’s simply pathetic right now trying to hustle old people for money in a game which doesn’t even use poker chips” and that his friend Wolter has told him to “take some time and think about it”. We can only speculate that Wolter has been trying to push Alowairdi back into competitive poker.

   It is unclear whether or not the poker pro will remain retired. We can only speculate on a possible return at this time. Alowairdi has yet to comment since his official retirement and has remained mum on the issue.

(Above: Alowairdi dealing during “game time” at an Eau Claire senior center)

[ABOVE: Alowairdi is seen with his bags packed and personal assistants boarding his private jet rumored to be en route to Eau Claire Regional Airport.]

   (AP-Eau Claire)  Just two weeks after his long-winded and emotional retirement professional poker player and “Strong-Arm Poker” co-founder Raji Alowairdi appears to be headed back to the table — possibly in time for tonight’s scheduled return. The group had a scheduled week off last week.

   While we can only speculate many believe that his retirement may be cut short. Here is what we know right now:

1. His retirement was abrupt and came after weeks of frustration at the table. We’ve seen emotional outbursts in the past and this appears to be in line with a spontaneous “tantrum” much like many that we’ve seen through seasons one and two of the show.

2. While he has yet to publicly speak out about his future, he has in the past talked about his lack of desire to participate in “OTA” activities — namely dealing out to see who has the first Ace in the deck to decide a dealer. We wouldn’t be surprised if he shows up right after the order is determined.

3. As we first told you yesterday, he has been talking with long-time poker buddy Duane Wolter III about his future and it is rumored that Wolter has tried numerous times to coax him back into professional playing.

   Only time will tell what happens from here. We will update you as soon as we find out anything further on this breaking situation.