Ben Yu [], b. Dayton, OH Four bracelets: 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. West Tisbury, MA as Jesse James Sylvia 2012 WSOP Main Event 2nd place ($5,295,149). WSOP.com | Hendon
March 1
Shaun Deeb [], b. Syracuse, NY as Shaun Frank Deeb Five bracelets: 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). Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon
March 11
Bill Baxter Wins Monumental IRS Case Professional poker players can now 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. Poker Hall of Fame 1980. Wikipedia
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.
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, began 5/10)
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.
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.
Gabe Kaplan Finishes 21st in WSOP Main Event Wins his entry fee back five days after winning $10,650 for an eighth place finish in the $5,000 No-Limit Deuce-to-Seven Draw.
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. Chicago, IL Won 2007 $5,000 Mixed Hold 'Em ($536,287) to set record as youngest bracelet winner at 21 years and 10 days old. Also won WSOP Europe €5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha (€238,140). Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon
Chance Kornuth [], b. Denver, CO Three bracelets: 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). WSOP.com | Hendon
July 2
Sam Trickett [], b. East Retford, England High roller with six cashes for six figures or more, including 2nd place in the 2012 Big One for One Drop for $10,112,001. Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon
July 30
Tom Dwan [], b. Edison, NJ as Thomas Dwan Jr. Online and high stakes player with 5 final tables including 2nd place in 2010 $1,500 No-Limit Hold 'Em ($381,885). Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon
October 17
David "Bakes" Baker [], b. Charlotte, NC Three bracelets: 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. Long Beach, CA 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 place ($646,927) & 2015 $5,000 No-Limit Hold 'Em 2nd place ($287,870). Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon
November 12
Jason Mercier [], b. Fort Lauderdale, FL Five bracelets: 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). Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon
December 29
Kristen Bicknell [], b. St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada Three bracelets: $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). First Canadian woman to win an open bracelet. Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon
