Ben Yu [] b. in Dayton, Ohio as Benjamin Yu Won 2015 $10,000 Limit Hold 'Em ($291,456), 2017 $10,000 Limit Deuce-to-Seven Triple Draw ($232,738), 2018 $50,000 No-Limit Hold 'Em High Roller ($1,650,773), & 2021 $10,000 No-Limit Hold 'Em 6-Handed ($721,453). Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon
February 26
Jesse Sylvia [] b. in West Tisbury, Massachusetts as Jesse James Sylvia 2012 WSOP Main Event 2nd place ($5,295,149). WSOP.com | Hendon
March 1
Shaun Deeb [] b. in Syracuse, New York as Shaun Frank Deeb Won 2015 $10,000 Pot-Limit Hold 'Em ($318,857), 2016 $1,500 Seven-Card Stud ($111,101), 2018 $25,000 Pot-Limit Omaha High Roller ($1,402,683), 2018 $10,000 No-Limit Hold 'Em 6-Max ($814,179), 2021 $25,000 Pot-Limit Omaha ($1,251,860), & 2023 $1,500 Eight Game 6-Max ($198,854). Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon
March 11
Bill Baxter Axes Taxes Baxter successfully convinced the IRS to allow professional poker players to declare their winnings as earned income rather than unearned income, which is taxed at a higher rate. Players can now also fund IRAs and Keogh retirement accounts.
March 27
Blondie Forbes d. 1986 [age 80] (b. 1/24/1906) Credited as the inventor of Texas Hold 'Em but was best at Five-Card Stud. Road gambler on the Southern Circuit before heading to Las Vegas in the 1960s. Poker Hall of Fame 1980. Wikipedia
May 2
Tom McEvoy Wins $1,000 Razz for Third Bracelet Defeats field of 131, including Alma McClelland heads up, for $52,400 in opening event of the 1986 WSOP.
$1,000 Seven-Card Razz (Event #1, 2 days [5/1 start])
Sam Mastrogiannis Wins Consecutive Events Californian defeats fields of 196 and 40 respectively in $1,000 and $5,000 Seven-Card Stud tournaments for $78,400 and $80,000 and his second and third bracelets.
$5,000 Seven-Card Stud (Event #5, 2 days [5/9 start])
Winner: Sam Mastrogiannis ($80,000 & 3rd bracelet)
Barbara Enright Goes From Victory to Victory Enright bets $11 on a horse named Victory, uses her $75 winnings to enter a satellite, and parlays that into a Ladies Championship worth $16,400.
$500 Women's Seven-Card Stud (Event #6, 2 days [5/10 start])
Jack Keller Cashes in Record Fourth Event of Year Runner-Up finish in $1,000 Limit Omaha for $24,200 breaks 13-year-old record set by Puggy Pearson when he won three bracelets in 1973.
$1,000 Limit Omaha (Event #8, 2 days [5/12 start])
Wendeen Eolis Becomes First Woman to Cash in WSOP Main Event Although she only wins her buyin back by finishing 25th of 141 players, Eolis makes a nice profit when Austin Squatty bets on her to cash and sells some of his action to her.
Jesse Alto Reaches Third Consecutive Main Event Final Table Exits in 4th for $62,700 after coming in 3rd in 1984 for $132,000 and 6th in 1985 for $42,000.
May 22
Bill Smith Last Champ Standing in Main Event Reaches final table third in chips before exiting in 5th place for $51,300.
Steve Billirakis [] b. in Chicago, Illinois Won 2007 $5,000 Mixed Hold 'Em ($536,287) to set record as youngest bracelet winner at 21 years and 10 days old. Won 2011 WSOP Europe €5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha ($318,122). Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon
June 3
Joseph Cheong [] b. in Seoul, South Korea as Sanghyon Cheong 2010 WSOP Main Event 3rd place ($4,130,049). Won 2019 $1,000 Double Stack No-Limit Hold 'Em ($687,782). Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon
June 4
Timothy Adams [] b. in Burlington, Toronto, Canada as Timothy Christopher Adams Won 2012 $2,500 No-Limit Hold 'Em 4-Max ($392,476). Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon
June 22
Benjamin Zamani [] b. in Germany Won 2015 $1,500 No-Limit Hold 'Em ($460,640) & 2017 $1,500 Omaha Hi-Lo ($238,620); WPT Player of the Year 2016-17 (Season 15). WSOP.com | Hendon
June 24
Chance Kornuth [] b. in Denver, Colorado Won 2010 $5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha ($508,090), 2018 Online $3,200 No-Limit Hold 'Em High Roller ($341,599), 2021 Short Deck No-Limit Hold 'Em ($194,670), & 2024 $1,000 Flip & Go No-Limit Hold 'Em ($155,446). WSOP.com | Hendon
July 2
Sam Trickett [] b. in East Retford, England High roller with six cashes for six figures or more including 2012 Big One for One Drop 2nd place ($10,112,001). Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon
July 12
Elisabeth Hille [] b. in Bergen, Norway 2012 WSOP Main Event 11th place ($590,442) busting just before Gaelle Baumann. WSOP.com | Hendon
July 30
Tom Dwan [] b. in Edison, New Jersey as Thomas Dwan Jr. Online and high stakes player. 2010 $1,500 No-Limit Hold 'Em 2nd place ($381,885). Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon
October 17
David 'Bakes' Baker [] b. in Charlotte, North Carolina Won 2010 $10,000 No-Limit Deuce-to-Seven Draw ($294,321), 2012 $10,000 H.O.R.S.E. ($451,779), & 2021 $1,500 Limit Deuce-to-Seven Triple Draw ($87,837). Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon
November 1
Bryn Kenney [] b. in Long Beach, California Won 2014 $1,500 10-Game Mix 6-Max ($153,220). 7 other cashes for $100,000 including 2018 $100,000 No-Limit Hold 'Em High Roller 5th ($646,927) & 2015 $5,000 No-Limit Hold 'Em 2nd ($287,870). Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon
November 12
Jason Mercier [] b. in Fort Lauderdale, Florida as Jason Mark Mercier Won 2009 $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha ($237,415), 2011 $5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha 6-Max ($619,575), 2015 $5,000 No-Limit Hold 'Em 6-Max ($633,357), 2016 $10,000 Deuce-to-Seven Draw ($273,335), 2016 $10,000 H.O.R.S.E. ($422,874), & 2023 $1,500 No-Limit Deuce-to-Seven Draw ($151,276). Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon
December 20
Ben Tollerene [] b. in Oak Harbor, ? 2nd place in 2024 $250,000 Super High Roller No-Limit Hold'em ($3,537,135) & 2024 Paradise Island $100,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Super High Roller ($1,577,660). Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon
December 29
Kristen Foxen [] b. in St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada as Kristen Bicknell Women's record five bracelets: 2013 $1,000 Ladies Championship ($173,922), 2016 $1,500 Bounty No-Limit Hold 'Em ($290,768), & 2020 Online $2,500 No-Limit Hold 'Em 6-Max ($356,411), 2023 Online No-Limit Hold 'Em Crazy 8's ($92,142), and 2024 Online $1,000 No-Limit Hold 'Em 6-Max ($56,703). Last Woman Standing in 2024 Main Event (13th, $600,000). First Canadian woman to win an open bracelet. Global Poker Index Female Player of the Year 2017-19, 2023, & 2025 (only player with multiple wins). Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon