Is he a man on the run?

A man in hiding?

Or just someone who’s shy?

Nobody knows and that’s just the way he wants it.

He is Richard Austin, mystery man from Louisville, Kentucky, USA, and he has won Event #35 at the 2009 World Series of Poker (WSOP) in Las Vegas.

The event, a pot-limit Omaha tournament with a buy-in of $5,000 and a prize pool of about $1.7 million, drew 363 participants and paid out cash prizes to the top 36 finishers.

For the victory, Austin earns $409,484 and his first career WSOP championship gold bracelet.

The runnerup was Sorel Mizzi of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, picking up $253,048.

Coming in third was Cliff Josephy of Syosset, New York, USA, collecting $166,771.

Other top names finishing in the money in the event include Dave “Devilfish” Ulliot in 16th place, Jesper Hougaard in 23rd and Jeffrey “The Iceman” Lisandro in 33rd.

So who is Austin?

Not much is known, because after winning the tourney, he refused to hold a press conference, as is standard for all WSOP event-winners.

He is the first winner at this year’s WSOP to so snub the media.

In fact, he also declined to participate in the gold bracelet award ceremony, becoming the first WSOP event-winner this year to do that too.

(He’ll still receive the bracelet, though.)

So is Austin a criminal on the lam who’s declining publicity?

Or maybe he’s got an ex-wife (or two) that’s looking to increase the alimony?

Nobody knows.

(Or likely cares.)

And that’s just the way he wants it.

(E-mail Tom Somach at tomsomach@yahoo.com.)