Nationality
American
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Born (date and place of birth)
January 29, 1970, United States
Residence (current location)
Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Education (institution, specialization)
Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from University of Georgia
Children (number, ages)
Six children
Year started playing poker
2004
Age when started playing
Started serious poker involvement at about age 34
Year turned professional
Around 2009–2010 when he began more consistent mid-to-high stakes tournament play
First major win (amount, tournament, year)
2010 $1,000 No Limit Hold'em event at Five Star World Poker Classic for $25,500
Who introduced to poker / first mentor
Learned poker from his grandmother
First important tournament
2004 Festa al Lago II $10,000 No-Limit Hold'em Championship, finished 24th for $10,381
Main motivation for turning pro
Transitioned with ability to bankroll poker from successful business career and passion for the game
Initial bankroll
Self-funded using earnings from College Loan Corporation business success
Poker education (courses, coaches)
Primarily self-taught with extensive tournament experience and study; no formal courses documented
Total live tournament winnings
Over $41 million in live tournament earnings as of 2025
Number of tournament wins
Multiple tournament wins including significant wins in high roller events (exact total titles not consolidated)
Number of final tables
Numerous final tables mainly in high roller events and major tournaments
Largest tournament win (amount, tournament, year)
£2,100,000 ($2,610,317) at 2019 Super High Roller Bowl London
WSOP bracelets (number)
1 (2025, $2,500 No-Limit Hold'em Freezeout event)
WSOP cashes (number)
58 cashes including multiple deep runs in main event and high rollers
WSOP final tables
Several final tables including high roller events and one bracelet win final table
Best WSOP Main Event result
159th place in 2009 WSOP Main Event for $40,288
Super high roller results ($100K+)
Strong results including wins and top finishes in $100,000+ buy-in events like PCA Super High Roller and Super High Roller Bowl
High roller wins ($25K-$100K)
Several wins in $25K-$100K buy-in high roller tournaments including Aria High Roller Series and PokerGO Cup
Poker team
Founder of Poker Central and PokerGO; not known as part of a stable or external team
Main cash game limits
Plays primarily in high stakes live cash games and high roller tournaments
Highest stakes played
Played $1,000,000 buy-in Big One for One Drop and multiple $100K+ buy-in high rollers
Notable high stakes sessions
Participated in famous high stakes events and notable hands such as cracking aces vs. aces in 2014 Big One for One Drop
Country ranking
Among top American high stakes tournament players
All Time Money List position
12th on all-time money list as of late 2023
Average tournament win
High average cash prize from frequent high roller finishes, typically six-figure scores or more
Statistics by year (best/worst year)
Frequent high roller cashes and wins from 2009 through 2025 with peaks around 2018-2023
Main discipline (Hold'em, Omaha, Mixed games)
No-Limit Hold'em primarily, with some Pot Limit Hold'em and mixed events
Format specialization (tournaments/cash/online/live)
Specializes in live high roller tournaments and high stakes cash games
Preferred table size (6-max, full ring, heads-up)
Primarily full ring and 6-max in tournaments
Known formats (NLHE, PLO, HORSE, others)
No-Limit Hold'em, Pot Limit Hold'em, with some mixed poker formats
Specialization limits
High stakes buy-ins generally ranging from $25,000 to $1,000,000+
Online rooms where plays
Not publicly documented for regular online play
Favorite casinos/locations
Aria Casino in Las Vegas among favorite venues for live high roller events
Style characterization (TAG, LAG, nitty, aggressive)
Exploitative and aggressive with strong tournament strategy adaptation
Known for bluffs/traps
Known for strategic play, including timed aggression and strong hand-reading
Mathematical or intuitive approach
Combines mathematical and intuitive decision-making strategies
Style adaptability
Highly adaptable to field and conditions across various tournaments and opponent types
Playing strengths
High roller tournament experience, strong bankroll management, strategic mindset, and mental toughness
GTO strategy usage
Employs Game Theory Optimal concepts and modern poker theory in tournament play
Poker software usage
Known to utilize poker analysis tools and training software for preparation
Television appearances (list of shows with specific episodes/dates)
Appeared on PokerGO broadcast events, high roller series coverage
Major publication interviews (publication names, article titles, links)
Multiple interviews in PokerNews, PokerTube, and other poker media outlets
Type of content in social media
Primarily poker industry content related to PokerGO and poker event promotion
Own business (business names, descriptions, websites)
Founder of College Loan Corporation and Poker Central/PokerGO
Poker project investments (project names, involvement details)
Founded Poker Central and invested heavily in poker streaming and tournament production
Poker publication articles (publication names, article titles, publication dates, links)
Numerous profile articles on poker media sites including PokerNews and CardPlayer
Legal proceedings (case details, outcomes, court documents)
Filed legal action in 2018 against CRTV over loan repayments, involving his media company
Peer recognition (specific recognitions, award details)
Widely respected high stakes player and poker entrepreneur, nicknamed "El Jefe"
Special achievements (achievement descriptions, recognition details)
Creator of high roller tournaments Super High Roller Bowl, Poker Masters, US Poker Open
Records associated with name (record descriptions, verification)
Among top 15 all-time live tournament money winners worldwide
Contribution to poker development (specific contributions, recognition)
Major influence on televised poker and high roller tournament scene via Poker Central/PokerGO
Legacy in poker world (specific legacy aspects, community impact)
Influential entrepreneur-player who reshaped poker media and high roller coverage
Industry influence (specific influences, changes attributed)
Changed poker broadcasting, created high roller tournament circuits, promoted poker streaming as major entertainment platform
WSOP (World Series of Poker) - all events all years
2025 | United States | WSOP | Las Vegas | $2,500 No-Limit Hold'em Freezeout | 2500 | 1st | 449,245 | 1,299 | | |||| 2023 | United States | WSOP | Las Vegas | $100,000 NLHE High Roller | 100000 | 2nd | 1,592,539 | | | |||| 2014 | United States | WSOP | Las Vegas | $1,000,000 Big One for One Drop | 1000000 | 8th | 1,306,667 | 48 | |
WSOP Europe
2019 | Europe | WSOP Europe | Monte Carlo | €250,000 Super High Roller No-Limit Hold'em | 250000 | 5th | 538,722 | | |
Triton Poker Series
2019 | United Kingdom | Triton Poker SHR | London | £250,000 Super High Roller | 250000 | 4th | 1,724,500 | | |
Aria High Roller Series
2022 | United States | Aria High Roller Series | Aria | $10,000 No-Limit Hold'em | 10000 | 1st | 137,340 | | |
PokerGO Cup
2023 | United States | PokerGO Cup | PokerGO Studio | $15,000 No-Limit Hold'em | 15000 | 3rd | 126,750 | 127 | | |||| 2022 | United States | PokerGO Cup | PokerGO Studio | $10,000 No-Limit Hold'em | 10000 | 2nd | 144,000 | 144 | | |||| 2021 | United States | PokerGO Cup | PokerGO Studio | Main Event | 80000 | 1st | 1,058,000 | | | |||| 2023 | United States | PokerGO Cup | PokerGO Studio | Overall Champion | | | 655,800 | | |
Freezeout tournaments
2025 | United States | WSOP | Las Vegas | $2,500 No-Limit Hold'em Freezeout | 2500 | 1st | 449,245 | 1,299 | |
PokerStars tournaments
2013 | Bahamas | PCA | Bahamas | $100,000 High Roller | 100000 | 4th | 543,800 | | |
Provided tournament commentary and hosting via PokerGO productions