Poker Stories

Ari Engel is one of the hardest working grinders on the tournament circuit today. The former no. 1 online poker player in the world has been practically living out of a suitcase as he chases big cashes all over the globe. The 33-year-old has done quite well for himself, with nearly $5 million in live tournament cashes. He's currently tied for fourth place with eight WSOP Circuit titles and in 2016, he took down the Aussie Millions main event. Despite the fact that he didn't really concentrate on live poker until after Black Friday, Engel has somehow managed to rack up 284 live tournament cashes so far in his career, 48 of which came last year. To compare, 53-year-old Phil Hellmuth, who won the 1989 WSOP main event, has a total of 280 career cashes. Highlights from this interview include being a world-traveling child, Canadians with Australian accents, lazily finishing college in two years, inspiring his landlord to take up poker, being a poker workaholic, the positives of a fragmented online poker market, how

Frank Kassela is a three-time WSOP bracelet winner and the 2010 World Series of Poker Player of the Year. In addition to $3 million in live tournaments earnings, Kassela is also a regular in the nosebleed-stakes mixed games that run in Las Vegas and Los Angeles. When he's not tearing up the felt, Kassela owns and manages several business throughout the United States. He's also passionate about politics, and even ran for Congress in 2013. Highlights from this interview include WSOP funk, channeling his inner-Forrest Gump, selling office supplies to feed the new baby, waiting in line to play slots, getting a poker education from Jack Keller, finding inspiration from Matt Damon, being the reason why Johnny Chan has a tenth bracelet, why PLO is the mixed-games gateway drug, running for congress, an obsession with Broadway, and losing a $350,000 pot to Rick Salomon.

Tony Dunst knew he wanted to be a poker player even before he could legally enter a casino. His dream became a reality and the Milwaukee, Wisconsin-native has put together a solid poker resume with $2.9 million in live tournament earnings and another $1.9 million online. He won his WSOP bracelet in 2016 and even has a WPT title from 2013. These days, Dunst considers himself to be more of a broadcast personality than a professional poker player. After longtime commentator Mike Sexton stepped down from the WPT to become Chairman at PartyPoker, Dunst was promoted to the full-time commentator spot alongside Vince Van Patten. Highlights from this episode include taking over for a poker legend, why Phil Hellmuth is the way he is, the glamorous world of gambling, being a sandwich artist and selling shoes, being banned from Australia, loneliness in Shanghai, being backed by a 17-year-old, being a WPT employee and champion, and throwing half his buy-in in the trash.

Jonathan Little is a two-time World Poker Tour champion who was also named WPT Season VI Player of the Year. The Pensacola, Florida native has more than $6.5 million in live tournament earnings in addition to the millions he won online. Little has established himself over the last decade as one of the hardest working players int the game. When he's not on the road playing the circuit or doing commentary for live streams, Little lives in New York with his wife and son, working on poker training videos, hand packs, webinars and private coaching. He's authored more than a dozen poker books, including his latest, Mastering Small Stakes No-Limit Hold'em: Strategies to Consistenly Beat Small Stakes Tournaments and Cash Games. Highlights from this episode include an eclectic childhood, mutes for all occasions, fueling planes at the airport in a hurricane, making $20,000 a month in college, getting fired from McDonalds, buying real estate at 18, the learning curve of his first year on the circuit, the secret of not w

Joe Cada became a household name in the poker world in 2009 when he won the World Series of Poker main event for more than $8.5 million. By doing so, he surpassed Peter Eastgate as the youngest champion ever, at the age of 21, and scored a $1 million contract with PokerStars. Already a feared cash game grinder, Cada continued to put in time in high-stakes online games after his main event win, preffering to stay close to home in his native Michigan rather than travel the tournament circuit. But despite his preference for cash games, Cada has proven that he's no one-hit wonder when it comes to tournaments. After notching three more WSOP final-table finishes, Cada won the 2014 $10,000 six-max no-limit hold'em event for $670,041 and his second bracelet. Now 29, Cada has racked up more than $10.5 million in live tournament earnings. Highlights from this interview include being exposed to gambling at an early age, buying a house at age 19, gifting his roommates $100,000, being the youngest WSOP main event winner e

Maria Ho is not only a feared, high-stakes cash game grinder, but also quite the tournament player, having cashed for nearly $2.2 million. The 34-year-old is perhaps best known for being the last woman standing in the WSOP main event, having done so twice, in 2007 and 2014. But the L.A.-based poker pro doesn't just have her mind on the tables. She's also done work as a commentator and sideline reporter for the Heartland Poker Tour and the Super High Roller Bowl. Most recently, she signed on to host Amazon's Mobile Masters Invitational, which will air later this summer on CBS Sports. Highlights from this interview include maintaining professionalism with Kevin Hart, the boyfriend that lost her bankroll, risk-taking lessons from her father, why Simon Cowell was mean to her, a trip to the police station, running away from home and being shipped to boarding school, using book money for her poker bankroll, unfair Amazing Race challenges, getting called by seven high, and why her parents weren't impressed that she

Greg Raymer became a household name in the poker world back in 2004 when he won the World Series of Poker main event and the $5 million first-place prize. With his signature reptilian sunglasses and his fossilized card protectors, Raymer nearly went back-to-back before bowing out in 25th place back in 2005. The former patent lawyer has seven other WSOP final tables on his resume, and in 2012 he won an unprecedented four Heartland Poker Tour main event titles en route to HPT Player of the Year honors. Raymer has racked up more than $7.5 million in career tournament earnings. Highlights from this episode include giving badugi lessons, a knack for racquetball, abandoning academia, being a card counter in Minnesota, why Bret Maverick is weak tight, an appreciation for Matt Damon, selling action for the main event, hosting a poker game for Mickey Mouse, fighting off armed robbers at Bellagio, the error rate of the death penalty, the rarity of royal flushes, and a bad beat that cost him $40 million.

Noah Schwartz has put together quite the poker resume since he first made his debut back in 2007. The 33-year-old has racked up more than $5.5 million in tournament earnings and has made seven final tables on the World Poker Tour. In addition to claiming a WPT title, Schwartz also won a World Series of Poker Europe event back in 2013 to claim his first bracelet. His biggest score came in 2015 when he took down the $100,000 buy-in Alpha8 high roller event for $585,000, but the always engaging Schwartz is also known for his success in both casino and private cash games. Highlights from this interview include throwing the 12-to-6 curveball, being a numbers guy, sub-prime mortgage sales, buying six-figure Range Rovers with cash, the importance of alone time, being a sneaker head, avoiding the Fyre Festival, sitting courtside with Pacquiao and hugging LeBron, and why Noah is a good name to pay for.

Justin Bonomo is on quite the hot streak, coming off of his best year on the tournament circuit where he cashed for $4.2 million. He is currently no. 21 on the all-time tournament earnings list with $15.1 million. Bonomo's biggest score came in 2012 when he took down the EPT Grand Final super high roller for just over $2.1 million. Not only has the 31-year-old Virginia native done exceptionally well on the high roller circuit, but he also owns a World Series of Poker bracelet and a WSOP Circuit title. Highlights from this interview include three-way bad beats, not being suited for college life, how artificial intelligence will affect live poker, future music for birds and cats, the allure of Burning Man, snowflake avalanches, getting some life extension, battling Isildur, walking 16 miles in Australia, and the benefits of sharing intimacy.

Bryn Kenney is currently no. 1 in the Card Player Player of the Year race and has been one of the most consistent performers on the tournament circuit for the last four years. The 30-year-old, Long Beach, New York native has racked up more than $15 million in career live tournament earnings, which is good enough for no. 20 on the all-time list. Although he does own one World Series of Poker bracelet, most of his success has come on the high roller circuit where he frequently puts up buy-ins of $25,000 or more. Highlights from this interview include an early knack for sabermetrics, trash talking with Phil Hellmuth, the not-so-crazy lifestyle of a top-ranked Magic: The Gathering player, weight loss prop bets, hurting his bankroll with staking, douchebags with four lamborghinis, high-stakes battles with Rick Salomon, and flying to Mexico for one $5,000 meal.

Nick Schulman is widely regarded as one of the top all-around players in the game today, regularly competing in some of the biggest cash games around. Although he doesn't play a lot of tournaments these days, he's done quite well in the past, racking up $8.3 million along with a World Poker Tour title and two World Series of Poker bracelets. The New York native has been a gambler since he was a teenager, dropping out of high school to play in pool halls before finding poker. Now 32, Schulman lives in Las Vegas and is a regular face in the nosebleed games in Bobby's Room. Highlights from this interview include pool hustlers, NYC underground poker games, blowing through seven figures, staying a student of the game, losing big to some banker, shooting expensive free throws, gangsta rap vs. classical music and why live reads are still important.

Jean-Robert Bellande made an immediate impact on the poker world back in 2005 as a brash and outspoken player known for playful table talk, but in the years since he has managed to climb the ranks and play in some of the biggest games cash games in the world. The New York native has also had quite a bit of tournament success, coming close to a bracelet twice at the World Series of Poker, including a runner-up finish in the 2015 Poker Players Championship. He has more than $2.1 million in live tournament earnings. Bellande also appeared on the reality game show Survivor, on the 15th season of the program. Highlights from this interview include being tall in China, going from nightclub promoter to the life of the party, losing big in his first session, running the worst, hanging out with celebrity DJs, visiting movie sets and going to the Oscars, avoiding reality TV, and assembling fake Apple products in Taiwan.

Daniel Negreanu is currently no. 1 on the all-time tournament earnings list with nearly $32 million in live tournament earnings. The 42-year-old Toronto native was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2014 and has six World Series of Poker bracelets and two World Poker Tour titles. He was named Card Player Player of the Year in both 2004 and 2013. The Team PokerStars Pro has also become a notable online presence in recent years, maintaining his Full Contact Poker blog, website and podcast, as well as a popular YouTube channel featuring vlogs, rants and hand analysis. Negreanu is also the author of numerous poker books and has appeared in movies, TV shows, music videos, a video game and even his own documentary, Kid Poker. Highlights from this interview include saying no to drugs, being whipped, why the Germans are inspiring, being a mama's boy, pathetic clickbait headlines, crazy fan tattoos, punching online trolls in the face, the romantic idea of being broke, why Mike Matusow is a deadbeat, the importanc

Mike Sexton is a legend of the game, not only for his achievements as a player, but also as one of poker's greatest ambassadors. The 69-year-old member of the Poker Hall of Fame is perhaps best known for his work as a commentator for the last 15 seasons on the World Poker Tour. But Sexton has also proven that his game is as sharp as his wit with a WPT title of his own, a WSOP bracelet and the Tournament of Champions title. Sexton is also the author of two books, the most recent being an autobiography titled Life's A Gamble. Highlights from this interview include collegiate gymnastics, growing up with a fellow poker great, volunteering for Vietnam, working as a salesman, a passion for little league coaching, crazy North Carolina home games, betting more than you have, why shag dance music is the greatest and a big sweat he had in a bet with Phil Ivey.

Andrew Lichtenberger broke onto the poker scene back in 2009 when he finished 18th in the World Series of Poker main event. Most recently, he won his first bracelet at the 2016 series. The New York native has nearly $9 million in live tournament earnings and another $3 million online. The 29-year-old also keeps himself busy away from the felt, with an online poker site with LuckyChewyPoker.com, a clothing line and even a book called Yoga Of Poker: A High-Stakes Journey To Freedom. Highlights from this interview include smuggled daycare cereal, bowling with children, an insurmountable mountain/hill, the tempo of Celtic folk music, being an unattached, modern man, inspirational Uber drivers and an $80,000 cooler.

Brian Rast is one of the best all-around players in the game today and currently sits in 10th place on the all-time tournament earnings list with $18.7 million in cashes. The Southern California native won the Super High Roller Bowl in 2015 for $7.5 million and he has also won the $50,000 buy-in Poker Players Championship twice, in 2011 and 2016. The 35-year-old is also a prominent high-stakes cash game grinder and an owner and operator of the WSOP School of Poker, as well as 3Bet Poker Clothing. Highlights from this interview include how to clear your head, quiz bowl challenges, college break ups, playing Counter-Strike alone, insane prop bets, stale playlists, cooking a good salad and a $3 million pot.

Scott Seiver is only 31 years old, but he's already established himself as one of the top poker players of all time.That's not an exaggeration. He has $21.7 million in career live tournament earnings, which is currently good enough for sixth place all time. Scott has five seven-figure scores on his resume, with his biggest being a runner-up finish in the $500k buy-in Super High Roller Bowl in 2015 for $5.1 million. Seiver earned his World Series of Poker bracelet back in 2008, taking down a $5,000 no-limit hold'em event for $755,891. He is also a World Poker Tour winner, having won the WPT Championship in 2011 for $1.6 million. Highlights from this interview include why Tokyo is a real city, Ivy League schools, betting on a butterfly stroke, offseason tournament destinations, the surprising importance of Bill Gazes and how to play pocket jacks.

Matt Stout is a New Jersey native with a big personality that has made him a standout player both live and online for the past decade. Stout has $3.5 million in career live tournament earnings, along with another $3.7 million won online. He is the founder of the Charity Series of Poker, a non-profit that has raised more than $150,000 for worthy charities and causes, and he is also an ambassador for the both the Borgata and Seminole Hard Rock. Highlights from this interview include 600-inch TV screens, Vegas real estate, being friends with your ex-girlfriends, accidentally dropping out of college, comedians and high-stakes Monopoly.

Jason Koon is coming off of his best year on the tournament circuit with nearly $3 million in earnings. In fact, four of Koon's five biggest scores came in 2016. Koon won the Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showodwn in August for $1 million and most recently, he nearly took down back-to-back $25,000 high roller events at Bellagio. In total, the West Virginia native has $6.5 million in live cashes. Highlights from this interview include a high speed police chase, track and field injuries, an $800k pot, why modern country music is terrible, online trolls, lying travelers, bad blackjack strategy and another exciting credit card roulette story.

Jesse Sylvia banked nearly $5.3 million when he finished runner-up in the 2012 World Series of Poker main event. In the years since, the Martha’s Vineyard native has proven that he is no fluke, making two more WSOP final tables and winning his first World Poker Tour title at the Borgata Poker Open for a little over $820,000. In total, Sylvia has earned more than $6.8 million in live tournaments. Highlights from this interview include living on an island, big pressure final tables, wonderful college professors, the 4Heart Suit, credit card roulette, imaginary numbers, pepper steak, and being a master of your domain… at the table.