Matt Snook, a singer who appeared on Season 8 of “The Voice,” was diagnosed with a rare form of kidney cancer earlier this year. On Saturday, he crossed off a bucket list item by competing in the 2024 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event.
PokerNews spoke with the avid poker enthusiast prior to the start of Day 1d. The Kansas City, Missouri area native has never played in such a large buy-in tournament, but he does have quite a bit of tournament experience, including 12 Rungood Poker Series (RGPS) cashes since 2019.
Rare form of Cancer
Matt Snook
Snook says he’s “more of a cash game player” than tournaments, but he does occasionally enjoy mixing it up. Every player in the Main Event has a story to tell, but the musician has quite a unique one.
“I got diagnosed with a rare form of kidney cancer January 3rd, and this is probably going to be one of my last hoorah’s to play a tournament,” Snook explained.
Despite his condition — he said he was given 6-12 months to live — he appeared in good spirits prior to the start of play. And he still has a positive outlook on life.
“I’ve lived such a blessed life, I feel good today, had a tough night last night, and I’m planning on trying to work through what I’ve got to work through,” he said. “Poker players know that poker is a grind and life is a grind. But I don’t want anybody feeling sorry for me. I don’t want any empathy. I’ve just lived a blessed life and I’m glad to be here.”
Snook said he first began feeling sick in September 2023 before his January cancer diagnosis. The poker player has sarcomatoid renal cell carcinoma (sRCC), a rare, aggressive form of kidney cancer that can affect other parts of the body.
“It starts in the kidney and goes to the bones. I have it everywhere,” he said of his condition.
Snook, who was joined inside the Paris ballroom by his supportive wife, Stephanie, and friends, estimates the cancer began close to a year ago.
“I probably had it before I knew I had it because I wasn’t feeling too good back in September,” the poker player said. “But I don’t worry about that.”
Snook is no longer treating his illness because the treatments he’s tried over the past six months haven’t improved his condition. Instead, he’s just “trying to enjoy the good days that I have,” and he feels “blessed that I was able to get here to Vegas from Kansas City.”
Competing on “The Voice”
Poker has never been a profession for Snook, but it has long been one of his passions. He previously worked in a corporate job, but his true talent is as a singer.
“I’ve been very blessed. I’ve sang in deserts, and sang in hospitals, like in Iraq and Afghanistan,” Snook said.
Snook was “looking to be on TV,” so he tried out for “The Voice,” a popular American reality TV singing competition on NBC. During the blind audition phase of Season 8 in 2015, the country music singer performed the Brooks & Dunn song “Red Dirt Road,” and was chosen by Team Blake, but he was eliminated during the battle rounds. He also competed in Season 7 but didn’t appear on television.
“That was a beautiful experience,” he said of his appearance on “The Voice.”
At the time of publishing, following the first break of Day 1d, Snook was back to a little above 50,000 chips, better than he was earlier in the session as he had dipped well below his 60,000-chip starting stack.
