David Chiu [] b. in Nanning, China 1996 WSOP Main Event final table bubble boy ($31,200); Won 1996 $2,000 No-Limit Hold 'Em ($396,000), 1998 $3,000 No-Limit Hold 'Em ($205,200), 2000 $5,000 Seven-Card Stud ($202,000), 2005 $5,000 Omaha Hi/Lo ($347,410), & 2013 $2,500 Seven-Card Stud ($145,520). Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon
October 10
Toto Leonidas [] b. in Bacolod, Philippines as Alfredo C. Leonidas Won 2003 $1,500 Seven-Card Stud ($98,760). Featured in Poker's Most Wanted playing card deck (2006). Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon
November 24
Eli Elezra [] b. in Jerusalem, Israel as Eliahu Ilan Elezra Won 2007 $3,000 Seven-Card Stud Hi/Lo ($198,984), 2013 $2,500 Deuce-to-Seven Triple Draw ($173,236), 2015 $1,500 Seven-Card Stud ($112,591), 2019 $1,500 Seven-Card Stud ($93,766), 2022 $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi/Lo ($611,362). Poker Hall of Fame 2021. Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon
1961
February 25
Amir Vahedi b. in Tehran, Iran (d. 1/8/2010) 2003 WSOP Main Event 6th place ($250,000). Won 2003 $1,500 No-Limit Hold 'Em ($270,000) to become the first Iranian with a bracelet. Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon
August 13
Chad Brown b. in New York, New York as Chad Lewis Brown (d. 7/2/2014) Finished 2nd in 2004 $1,500 Seven-Card Stud ($62,320), 2005 $2,000 Seven-Card Stud Hi-Lo ($89,838), & 2007 $5,000 No-Limit Deuce-to-Seven ($324,777). Awarded honorary WSOP bracelet for his overall contributions to the game of poker shortly before he passed away. Bluff Magazine Player of the Year 2006. Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon
October 7
Robert Varkonyi [] b. in Great Neck, New York 2002 WSOP Main Event winner ($2,000,000). Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon
December 20
Allen Kessler [] b. in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 11 final tables includes four runner-up finishes and 8th place in 2014 $50,000 Poker Players Championship. Led the 2010 WSOP with nine cashes. Over 250 combined WSOP and WSOP Circuit cashes. Heartland Poker Tour Player of the Year 2013. Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon
1962
February 6
Nolan Dalla [] b. in Dallas, Texas WSOP Media Director from 2002 to 2016, initially in the role of Horseshoe Director of Public Relations. Hendon
February 17
Lou Diamond Phillips [] b. in U.S. Naval Base Subic Bay, Zambales, Philippines as Lou Diamond Upchurch La Bamba actor was the Last Celebrity Standing in 2009 WSOP Main Event (186th for $36,626). Wikipedia | Hendon
February 21
Alan Goehring [] b. in Milwaukee, Wisconsin 1999 WSOP Main Event 2nd place ($768,625). Won 2020 Online $500 No-Limit Hold 'Em Freezeout ($119,400). Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon
March 27
Rob Hollink [] b. in Enschede, Netherlands Won 2008 $10,000 Limit Hold 'Em ($496,931) to become the first Dutchman with a bracelet. Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon
April 19
Hasan Habib [] b. in Karachi, Pakistan 2000 WSOP Main Event 4th place ($326,000). Won 2004 $1,500 Seven-Card Stud Hi/Lo ($93,060). Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon
June 25
Dan Heimiller [] b. in California Won 2002 $2,000 Limit Hold 'Em/Seven-Card Stud ($108,300) & 2014 $1,000 Seniors Championship ($627,462). Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon
July 22
Steve Albini b. in Pasadena, California (d. 5/7/2024) Won 2018 $1,500 Seven-Card Stud ($105,629) & 2022 $1,500 H.O.R.S.E. ($196,089). Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon
October 28
Scotty Nguyen [] b. in Nha Trang, Vietnam as Thuan B. Nguyen 1998 WSOP Main Event winner ($1,000,000). Won 1997 $2,000 Limit Omaha Hi/Lo ($156,950), 2001 $2,500 Pot-Limit Omaha ($178,480), 2001 $5,000 Limit Omaha Hi/Lo ($207,580), & 2008 $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. ($1,989,120; only player to win both Main Event and H.O.R.S.E. Championship). Poker Hall of Fame 2013. Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon
1963
April 11
Chris Ferguson [] b. in Los Angeles, California 2000 WSOP Main Event winner ($1,500,000). 1997 WSOP Main Event bubble boy. Won 2 bracelets in both 2000 and 2003. WSOP Circuit's career money leader until 2016. Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon
July 4
Esther Rossi b. in Ohio(?) as Esther Rose Rossi (d. 4/1/2024) 7 final tables, including 4 in open events. Runner-up in 1992 $2,500 Seven-Card Stud ($53,000) & 1988 Ladies Championship ($10,625). Fourth place in 2008 $1,500 H.O.R.S.E. ($68,505). Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon
October 1
Darvin Moon b. in Oakland, Maryland (d. 9/19/2020) 2009 WSOP Main Event 2nd place ($5,182,601). Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon
October 30
Howard Lederer [] b. in Concord, New Hampshire as Howard Henry Lederer Won 2000 $5,000 Limit Omaha Hi/Lo ($198,000) & 2001 $5,000 Deuce-to-Seven Draw ($165,870). WPT Player of the Year 2002-03 (Season 1). Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon
December 18
Kenna James [] b. in Chicago, Illinois Former actor finished 44th in 2005 WSOP Main Event ($235,390). 4th place in 2003 $2,500 Limit Hold 'Em ($36,140). Featured in Poker's Most Wanted playing card deck (2006). Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon
1964
February 11
Bill Edler [] b. in Evanston, Illinois Won 2007 $5,000 No-Limit Hold 'Em 6-Max. 2007 Bluff Magazine Player of the Year. Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon
May 22
Hossein Ensan [] b. in Tehran, Iran 2019 WSOP Main Event winner ($10,000,000) at 55 years, 1 month, and 25 days old, the oldest world champ in 20 years. Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon
June 25
Greg Raymer [] b. in Minot, North Dakota as Gregory Paul Raymer 2004 WSOP Main Event winner ($5,000,000). Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon
July 16
Phil Hellmuth [] b. in Madison, Wisconsin as Phillip Jerome Hellmuth Jr. 1989 WSOP Main Event winner ($755,000). Set record as youngest Main Event winner at 24 years, 10 months, and 3 days. 2001 WSOP Main Event 5th place ($303,705). Has won a record 17 bracelets, including a record-tying three in one year in 1993. Record 34 years between first and last bracelets. Led 1990-99 decade with five bracelets. Poker Hall of Fame 2007. Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon
September 24
Ted Forrest [] b. in Syracuse, New York as William Ted Forrest Won record-tying three bracelets in one year in 1993. Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon
November 29
Jennifer Harman [] b. in Reno, Nevada as Jennifer Cecile Caramella Won 2000 $5,000 No-Limit Deuce-to-Seven Draw ($146,250) & 2002 $5,000 Limit Hold 'Em. First woman to win two open bracelets. Tied women's record by reaching multiple final tables three times in 2002, 2003, & 2010. Big Game player who was part of the Corporation that played against Andy Beal. Women in Poker Hall of Fame 2010 & Poker Hall of Fame 2015. Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon
1965
April 10
J.J. Liu [] b. in Taipei, Taiwan as Liu Jishung 1999 Last Woman Standing when she was known as Joanne Bortner (busted shortly before money bubble). Women in Poker Hall of Fame 2012. Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon
July 20
Andy Black [] b. in Belfast, Ireland 2005 WSOP Main Event 5th place ($1,750,000). Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon
July 30
Jeff Lisandro [] b. in Perth, Australia as Jeffrey Dominic Lisandro Won record-tying three bracelets in one year in 2009. Second player (after Daniel Negreanu) to win WSOP (2007), WSOP Europe (2010), and WSOP Asia-Pacific (2014) bracelets. Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon
September 13
Annie Duke [] b. in Concord, New Hampshire as Anne LaBarr Lederer Last Woman Standing in 2000 WSOP Main Event (10th for $52,160 while eight months pregnant) & 2003 (47th for $20,000). Won 2004 $3,000 Omaha Hi/Lo ($137,860). First woman to reach two final tables in one year (1995), repeating feat in 1996 and 2003. Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon
1966
January 1
Tuan Lam [] b. in Vietnam 2007 WSOP Main Event 2nd place ($4,840,981). Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon
January 12
Cliff Josephy [] b. in Long Island, New York 2016 WSOP Main Event 3rd place ($3,453,035). Won 2005 $1,500 Seven-Card Stud ($192,100) & 2013 $3,000 No-Limit Hold 'Em Shootout ($299,486). Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon
February 19
David Singer [] b. in Brooklyn, New York 2003 WSOP Main Event 9th place ($120,000). Won 1999 $2,500 Seven-Card Stud ($199,000) & 2005 $5,000 No-Limit Deuce-to-Seven Draw ($365,135). Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon
March 11
Joe Hachem [] b. in Lebanon 2005 WSOP Main Event winner ($7,500,000). Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon
April 9
David Grey [] b. in New York 2003 WSOP Main Event 8th place ($160,000). Won 1999 $2,500 Seven-Card Stud ($199,000) & 2005 $5,000 No-Limit Deuce-to-Seven Draw ($365,135). Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon
May 19
Little Man Popwell d. 1966 [age 53] (b. 6/1/1912) Road gambler who was a Five-Card Stud expert. Poker Hall of Fame 1996. Wikipedia
July 14
Katja Thater [] b. in Hamburg, Germany Won 2007 $1,500 Razz ($132,653) to become the first non-American female to win an open bracelet and first German woman with a bracelet. Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon
August 15
Steve Dannenmann [] b. in Baltimore, Maryland 2005 WSOP Main Event 2nd place ($4,250,000). Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon
October 18
Lee Watkinson [] b. in Longbranch, Washington 2007 WSOP Main Event 8th place ($585,699). Won 2006 $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha ($655,746). WSOP.com | Hendon
December 25
Nick Dandolas d. 1966 [age 83] (b. 4/27/1883) Legendarily credited with inspiring the World Series of Poker by playing a months-long high stakes heads-up match against Johnny Moss in front of the Horseshoe in 1951. Poker Hall of Fame 1979. Obituary | Wikipedia
1967
February 10
David Pham [] b. in Vietnam Won 2001 $2,000 S.H.O.E. ($140,455), 2006 $2,000 No-Limit Hold 'Em Shootout ($240,222), & 2017 $1,50 No-Limit Hold 'Em ($391,960). Featured in Poker's Most Wanted playing card deck (2006). Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon
March 1
Tom Abdo d. 1967 [age 72] (b. 4/12/1894) High stakes poker player who often played in the Big Game at the Aladdin casino. Poker Hall of Fame 1982. Wikipedia
March 24
Minh Ly [] b. in Vietnam as Minh Hoang Ly 2002 WSOP Main Event 9th place ($85,000). 8 final tables. Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon
October 1
Kathy Liebert [] b. in Nashville, Tennessee First female to cash 100 times and the career cashes leader among women since 2014. Women in Poker Hall of Fame 2010. Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon
October 4
Mark Seif [] b. in Cairo, Egypt Won 2005 $1,500 Limit Hold 'Em ($181,330) & 2005 $1,500 No-Limit Hold 'Em ($611,145). Featured in Poker's Most Wanted playing card deck (2006). Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon
October 28
Kristy Gazes [] b. in California as Kristy Dawn Bidar 2001 $2,000 Limit S.H.O.E. 5th place ($17,555). Women in Poker Hall of Fame 2011. Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon
1968
February 26
Frank Kassela [] b. in Chicago, Illinois 2010 WSOP Player of the Year when he won $10,000 Seven-Card Stud Hi/Lo ($447,446) & $2,500 Razz ($214,085). Also won 2017 $1,500 No-Limit Deuce-to-Seven Draw ($89,151). Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon
April 30
Mike Matusow [] b. in Los Angeles, California Two WSOP Main Event final tables: 2001 6th ($239,765) & 2005 9th ($1,000,000). Won 1999 $3,500 No-Limit Hold 'Em ($265,475), 2002 $5,000 Limit Omaha Hi/Lo, 2008 $5,000 No-Limit Deuce-to-Seven Draw, & 2013 $5,000 Seven-Card Stud Hi/Lo ($266,503). Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon
May 15
Perry Friedman b. in Brooklyn, New York (d. 1/21/2024) Won 2002 $1,500 Limit Omaha Hi/Lo ($176,860). Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon
September 4
Gavin Smith b. in Guelph, Ontario, Canada (d. 1/14/2019) Won 2010 $2,500 Mixed Hold 'Em ($268,238). WPT Player of the Year 2005-06 (Season 4). Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon
October 27
Paul Darden [] b. in New Haven, Connecticut Won 2001 $2,500 Seven-Card Stud ($147,440). 1 World Poker Tour title. Featured in Poker's Most Wanted playing card deck (2006). Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon
November 23
Corky McCorquodale d. 1968 [age 64] (b. 8/23/1904) Texas road gambler who was an expert at Five-Card Stud and introduced Texas Hold 'Em to Las Vegas at the downtown California Club in 1963. Poker Hall of Fame 1979. Wikipedia
1969
January 15
Huck Seed [] b. in Santa Clara, California as Huckleberry Seed 1996 WSOP Main Event winner ($1,000,000). 1999 WSOP Main Event 6th place ($167,700). Won 1994 $2,500 Pot-Limit Omaha ($167,000), 2000 $5,000 Razz ($77,400), & 2003 $5,000 Razz ($71,500). 2010 WSOP Tournament of Champions winner ($500,000 but not a bracelet event). Poker Hall of Fame 2020. Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon
January 24
Rick Salomon [] b. in Neptune Township, New Jersey as Richard Allan Salomon Ex-husband of Pamela Anderson and Shannen Doherty was Last Celebrity Standing in 2006 WSOP Main Event (196th for $42,882). Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon
April 9
Texas Gamblers Reunion in Reno, Nevada Tom Moore organizes the Second Annual Gaming Fraternity Convention at his Holiday Casino, switching from the previous year's variety of table games to poker. The event is popular with the players but not a moneymaker for Moore, so he gladly lets Benny Binion have the idea, creating the World Series of Poker. [Estimated date]
April 23
Fabrice Soulier [] b. in Aignon, France Won 2011 $10,000 H.O.R.S.E. ($608,130). Over $2 million in winnings. Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon
May 18
Layne Flack b. in Rapid City, SD (d. 7/19/2021) Won 1999 $3,000 Pot-Limit Hold 'Em ($224,400), 2002 $2,000 No-Limit Hold 'Em ($303,880), 2002 $1,500 No-Limit Hold 'Em ($268,020), 2003 $2,500 Limit Omaha Hi/Lo ($119,260), 2003 $1,500 Limit Hold 'Em Shootout ($120,000), & 2008 $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha ($577,725). One of four players to win multiple bracelets in consecutive years. Poker Hall of Fame 2022. Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon
June 1
Andy Bloch [] b. in New Haven, Connecticut as Andrew Elliot Bloch Won 2012 $1,500 Seven-Card Stud ($126,363). 2006 $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. 2nd place ($1,029,600). 2012 $50,000 Poker Players Championship 3rd place ($561,738). Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon
August 7
Todd Brunson [] b. in El Paso, Texas as Todd Alan Brunson Won 2005 $2,500 Omaha Hi/Lo ($255,945). With Doyle Brunson, first father and son to both win WSOP bracelets. Poker Hall of Fame 2016. Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon
August 25
Jamie Gold [] b. in New York, New York as Jamie M. Usher 2006 WSOP Main Event winner (record $12,000,000). Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon
November 6
Colson Whitehead [] b. in New York, New York as Arch Colson Chipp Whitehead Multi-Pulitzer Prize-winning author wrote the 2014 book, The Noble Hustle, about his attempt to go from complete poker amateur to the 2011 WSOP Main Event. Wikipedia