Nationality
American
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Born (date and place of birth)
December 20, 1986, United States
Residence (current location)
Fort Worth, Texas, United States
Education (institution, specialization)
Studied finance at Texas Tech University
Year started playing poker
2006 (started serious poker playing while finishing high school and during university in 2006)
Age when started playing
Around 19-20 years old
Year turned professional
Around 2008-2010 (first recorded live score in 2008, active in high-stakes online around that time)
First major win (amount, tournament, year)
First five-figure live cash was $57,645 for 17th place at $15,400 WPT Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic in 2008
First important tournament
Live tournament cash August 2008, significant result at WPT Five Diamond World Poker Classic later that year
Main motivation for turning pro
Found poker during late high school and university; realized poker was his future during studying finance, drawn by high-stakes games and tournament opportunities
Poker education (courses, coaches)
Self-taught with experience from high-stakes online cash games and tournaments; no formal courses documented
Total live tournament winnings
Over $22.5 million in live tournament earnings as of 2025
Number of tournament wins
Multiple tournament wins including high roller events such as the £103,000 British Poker Open (2019) and $50,000 PLO Triton event (2024), plus several high roller victories totaling 3 high roller wins noted
Number of final tables
Numerous final tables, including at WSOP, Triton Series, Poker Masters, and other high roller events with at least 13 final tables in high roller events and 2 WSOP final tables
Largest tournament win (amount, tournament, year)
$3,537,135 for 2nd place at the $250,000 No-Limit Hold'em Super High Roller, 2024 WSOP
WSOP cashes (number)
At least 11 WSOP cashes
WSOP final tables
2 final tables
Best WSOP Main Event result
Second place in $250,000 NLH Super High Roller at 2024 WSOP (not Main Event but a marquee event)
Super high roller results ($100K+)
Multiple super high roller cashes including 3rd place $100,000 Aria Super High Roller 2017, 1st place $50,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Triton 2024, and 2nd place $250,000 WSOP SHR 2024
High roller wins ($25K-$100K)
Several, including $50,000 Rock N Roll Poker Open and various $25K-$100K range events
Online tournament winnings
Over $11 million combined on PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker under aliases "Ben86" and "Bttech86"
Major online titles
Won a $51,000 No-Limit Hold'em High Roller event at the 2015 PokerStars WCOOP
Main cash game limits
Primarily plays high-stakes Pot-Limit Omaha cash games, known for $100/$200 stakes and above
Highest stakes played
$100/$200 and higher Pot-Limit Omaha cash games; competes in $100K+ buy-in super high roller tournaments
Notable high stakes sessions
Involved in extremely high-stakes sessions including multi-million dollar swings in online PLO games against Viktor Blom
"Big Game" participation
Participated in famous high stakes cash games at Bellagio and Rio during WSOP seasons, competing against top professionals
Estimated cash game profits (if known)
Estimated to have won well over $11 million online plus millions more live, largest live tournament earnings over $22 million accumulated
Country ranking
Texas’ all-time leading money earner in live poker tournaments
All Time Money List position
Among top American poker players by all-time live earnings, exceeding $22 million
Average tournament win
Average cashes frequently six-figure amounts due to high roller specialization, with multiple million-dollar scores
Statistics by year (best/worst year)
Notable peak performances include $3.5M second place in 2024, consistent million-dollar scores in 2017-2024 period
Main discipline (Hold'em, Omaha, Mixed games)
Pot-Limit Omaha (specialty), also strong in No-Limit Hold'em, especially at high rollers
Format specialization (tournaments/cash/online/live)
Predominantly high-stakes cash games online and major live high roller tournaments
Preferred table size (6-max, full ring, heads-up)
Prefers 6-max or short handed for many high roller events, plays also full ring cash games
Known formats (NLHE, PLO, HORSE, others)
Pot-Limit Omaha, No-Limit Hold'em, PLO 6-max, and High Roller tournament variants
Specialization limits
High stakes $25K buy-in tournaments up to $250K super high rollers and $100/$200+ Pot-Limit Omaha cash games
Online rooms where plays
PokerStars (Ben86), Full Tilt Poker (Bttech86)
Favorite casinos/locations
Bellagio, Aria, Rio, and international high roller venues such as Monte Carlo and Triton Series stops
Style characterization (TAG, LAG, nitty, aggressive)
Aggressive, high-stakes cash game specialist with solid tournament skills; adaptable and highly skilled in PLO strategies
Known for bluffs/traps
Known for calculated aggression with reputation for skilled steals and well-timed bluffs in high stakes play
Mathematical or intuitive approach
Combines mathematical analysis with experience-informed intuition, highly analytical poker strategy
Style adaptability
Highly adaptable, capable of playing many formats and adjusting to diverse opponents in high stakes environments
Playing strengths
Exceptional Pot-Limit Omaha expertise, deep understanding of high stakes cash games, strong tournament endurance
GTO strategy usage
Known to integrate Game Theory Optimal strategies, especially in modern cash game and tournament play
Poker software usage
Uses advanced poker software tools for analysis and training (typical for high-stakes pros)
Television appearances (list of shows with specific episodes/dates)
Participated in televised events like Poker Masters final tables broadcasted on PokerGO
High Stakes Poker participation (seasons/episodes)
Participated in High Stakes Poker cash game events and similar televised poker shows (exact seasons unconfirmed)
Major publication interviews (publication names, article titles, links)
Featured in PokerListings, PokerNews, and other major poker media interviews discussing high stakes PLO and tournament career
Special achievements (achievement descriptions, recognition details)
Multiple seven-figure cashes including runner-up $3.5M (2024 WSOP SHR), high roller victories at Triton and BPO, recognized as one of top PLO players worldwide
Records associated with name (record descriptions, verification)
Texas’ all-time leading live poker money winner, one of highest all-time money earners in PLO cash and tournaments combined
Contribution to poker development (specific contributions, recognition)
Significant contribution to popularization and advance of Pot-Limit Omaha high stakes cash games and tournaments globally
Legacy in poker world (specific legacy aspects, community impact)
Established as one of the most feared and respected high-stakes PLO players, innovator in high roller tournament strategies
Industry influence (specific influences, changes attributed)
Helped elevate PLO cash games' profile; known for bringing high stakes Omaha cash game action into mainstream poker scene
WSOP (World Series of Poker) - all events all years
2024 | USA | WSOP | Las Vegas | $250,000 No-Limit Hold'em Super High Roller | 250000 | 2nd | 3537135 | | | |||| 2024 | USA | WSOP | Las Vegas | $100,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Super High Roller | 100000 | 2nd | 1577660 | | | |||| 2011 | USA | WSOP | Las Vegas | $10,000 No-Limit Hold'em 6-Handed Championship | 10000 | 7th | 99493 | | | |||| 2011 | USA | WSOP | Las Vegas | Main Event | | | | | |
EPT (European Poker Tour) - all seasons
2025 | Monaco | EPT | Monte Carlo | Main Event | | 10th | 202835 | | |
WSOP Paradise
2024 | USA | WSOP Paradise | | $100,000 Pot-Limit Omaha SHR | 100000 | 2nd | 1577660 | | |
Triton Poker Series
2025 | South Korea | Triton Poker | Jeju | $100,000 PLO Main Event | 100000 | 9th | 235000 | | | |||| 2024 | Monaco | Triton Poker | Monte Carlo | $50,000 PLO Six Max | 50000 | 1st | 1070000 | | |
Aria High Roller Series
2017 | USA | Aria | Las Vegas | $100,000 No-Limit Hold'em SHR | 100000 | 3rd | 1026416 | | | |||| 2024 | USA | Aria | Las Vegas | $10,100 Pot-Limit Omaha HR | 10100 | 5th | 32000 | | |
Poker Masters
2024 | USA | Poker Masters | Las Vegas | $25,200 No-Limit Hold'em | 25200 | 1st | 510000 | | |
Aussie Millions
2016 | Australia | Aussie Millions | Melbourne | $100,000 Challenge | 100000 | 2nd | 646962 | | |
SCOOP (Spring Championship of Online Poker)
2015 | Online | PokerStars WCOOP | Online | $51,000 No-Limit Hold'em High Roller | 51000 | 1st | 616518 | | |