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    Ben Yu

    Nationality

    American

    Born (date and place of birth)

    January 8, 1986, Dayton, Ohio, United States

    Residence (current location)

    Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

    Education (institution, specialization)

    Attended Stanford University

    Year started playing poker

    2008 (first recorded WSOP cash)

    Age when started playing

    Started serious poker involvement around age 22

    Year turned professional

    Approximately 2008, when cashing in first WSOP events and pursuing poker career

    First major win (amount, tournament, year)

    First significant tournament victory on August 14, 2010, at Detox Poker Series in Las Vegas in a $350 H.O.R.S.E. event ($7,881)

    First important tournament

    2008 WSOP $1,500 Limit Hold’em Shootout, placing 69th for $5,055 was earliest notable tournament cash

    Poker education (courses, coaches)

    Self-driven with focus on limit mixed games initially; uses solvers and modern poker theory for high roller no-limit transition

    Total live tournament winnings

    Over $10,000,000 in live tournament earnings as of 2025

    Number of tournament wins

    7 tournament titles including 4 WSOP bracelets

    Number of final tables

    15 WSOP final tables; numerous other final table appearances including WPT

    Largest tournament win (amount, tournament, year)

    $1,650,773 for winning 2018 WSOP $50,000 No-Limit Hold'em Big Blind Antes High Roller

    WSOP bracelets (number)

    4 WSOP bracelets (2015, 2017, 2018, 2021)

    WSOP cashes (number)

    At least 187 WSOP cashes, ranking 4th all-time

    WSOP final tables

    15 final table appearances at WSOP

    Best WSOP Main Event result

    150th place in 2018 WSOP Main Event

    Super high roller results ($100K+)

    First place in 2018 $50,000 WSOP High Roller; 2nd place in 2018 $25,000 Pot-Limit Omaha High Roller

    High roller wins ($25K-$100K)

    Multiple high roller victories including WSOP $50K High Roller in 2018 and others

    Main cash game limits

    Primarily engaged in high stakes tournament play including high roller events

    Highest stakes played

    Played and won $50,000 buy-in WSOP High Roller event; competed in $25K+ buy-in events

    Notable high stakes sessions

    Successful transition from limit mixed games to high roller no-limit hold’em in 2018

    Country ranking

    Among top American live tournament poker players

    All Time Money List position

    Within top 20-30 historically in all-time money lists at WSOP with over $5 million in WSOP earnings

    Average tournament win

    Average cash size notable especially with multiple six-figure and seven-figure scores

    Statistics by year (best/worst year)

    Regular deep runs and multiple final tables yearly with increasing consistency from 2015 onward

    Main discipline (Hold'em, Omaha, Mixed games)

    Initially specialized in Limit Hold’em and other limit mixed games, now focused on No-Limit Hold’em and high roller events

    Format specialization (tournaments/cash/online/live)

    Live multi-format tournament specialist focusing on mixed games and high roller events

    Preferred table size (6-max, full ring, heads-up)

    Experienced in full ring, six-handed, and mixed formats; excels in 6-max

    Known formats (NLHE, PLO, HORSE, others)

    Limit Hold’em, No-Limit Hold’em, 2-7 Triple Draw, Pot-Limit Omaha, H.O.R.S.E., Mixed games

    Specialization limits

    $10,000 to $50,000 buy-in events primarily

    Favorite casinos/locations

    Las Vegas venues including WSOP at Rio and Wynn

    Style characterization (TAG, LAG, nitty, aggressive)

    Initially tight-aggressive in limit games, evolving to versatile, mathematically oriented, skilled in both mixed games and no-limit high rollers

    Known for bluffs/traps

    Balanced strategy incorporating theory-driven aggression with selective bluffing and trapping elements

    Mathematical or intuitive approach

    Primarily mathematical and solver-based approach, using GTO strategies and game theory

    Style adaptability

    Demonstrated high adaptability transitioning from limit mixed games to No-Limit Hold’em high rollers successfully

    Playing strengths

    Expertise in mixed limit formats, strong mental game, strategic depth in no-limit high rollers, multi-format versatility

    GTO strategy usage

    Uses Game Theory Optimal strategies extensively, especially in recent no-limit tournament play

    Poker software usage

    Utilizes poker solvers and training software for strategic improvement

    Major publication interviews (publication names, article titles, links)

    Featured in Card Player magazine interviews discussing tournament strategies and career progression

    Poker publication articles (publication names, article titles, publication dates, links)

    Writes poker tournament strategy columns for Card Player magazine since 2013

    Magazine columns (magazine names, column titles, frequency)

    Card Player magazine tournament strategy column contributor

    Peer recognition (specific recognitions, award details)

    Ranked among top all-time WSOP cashers and final tablists; highly respected in poker community

    Special achievements (achievement descriptions, recognition details)

    Among best WSOP Limit Hold’em and mixed game players; four-time bracelet winner with millions in winnings

    Records associated with name (record descriptions, verification)

    Fourth all-time in WSOP cashes as of 2023, and 18th all-time in WSOP Limit Hold’em earnings

    Contribution to poker development (specific contributions, recognition)

    Contributions to poker literature via strategy articles; known for bridging limit mixed games and high roller no-limit events

    Legacy in poker world (specific legacy aspects, community impact)

    Regarded as one of the best limit and mixed game specialists turned successful high roller no-limit pro with solid tournament record

    Industry influence (specific influences, changes attributed)

    Known for demonstrating successful transition path from limit mixed games to no-limit high rollers, influencing player strategies

    WSOP (World Series of Poker) - all events all years

    2025-06-23|United States|World Series of Poker|Las Vegas|$3,000 Nine Game Mix Seven Max|3000|53|6029| | | |||| 2025-06-21|United States|World Series of Poker|Las Vegas|$2,500 Mixed Triple Draw Lowball|2500|18|8605| | | |||| 2025-06-20|United States|World Series of Poker|Las Vegas|$25,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Eight Max|25000|41|52715| | | |||| 2021-10-31|United States|World Series of Poker|Las Vegas|$10,000 No-Limit Hold'em Six Max Championship|10000|1|721453|329| | |||| 2018-07-14|United States|World Series of Poker|Las Vegas|$50,000 No-Limit Hold'em Big Blind Antes High Roller|50000|1|1650773|117| | |||| 2018-06-23|United States|World Series of Poker|Las Vegas|$25,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Eight Max|25000|2|866924|85| | |||| 2017-07-19|United States|World Series of Poker|Las Vegas|$10,000 Limit 2-7 Lowball Triple Draw Championship|10000|1|232738|72| | |||| 2015-07-06|United States|World Series of Poker|Las Vegas|$10,000 Limit Hold'em Championship|10000|1|291456|117| |

    WSOP Online events

    2024-11-12|United States|WSOP Online Domestic (MI-NV-NJ)|Online|No-Limit Hold'em|500|63|849| | | |||| 2024-10-20|United States|WSOP Online Domestic (MI-NV-NJ)|Online|No-Limit Hold'em|1000|10|6431| | |

    Poker Masters

    2018-09-12|United States|Poker Masters|Undisclosed|No-Limit Hold'em|26000|2|330000| | |

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