Poker News

On 5 August 2014, international bookie and high-stakes gambler Paul Phua (pronounced “Pwa”) appeared in a Las Vegas federal court to answer to charges of running an illegal sports betting enterprise—a “wire room”—out of a Caesars Palace villa during the 2014 World Cup and 2014 World Series of Poker (WSOP). Phua pled not guilty and […]

The post Paul Phua: Bookmaking, Organized Crime and Poker appeared first on Upswing Poker.

The poker world is chock full of talented female players: Annette Obrestad, Liv Boeree, Melanie Weisner, Vanessa Rouso, and Vanessa Selbst, to name a few—each of whom have enjoyed considerable success both online and in live arenas. Add to that list French poker pro Gaelle Baumann who is, perhaps, best known as the final table […]

The post Gaelle Baumann: How She Climbed the Ranks to Poker Success appeared first on Upswing Poker.

The poker world is chock full of talented female players: Annette Obrestad, Liv Boeree, Melanie Weisner, Vanessa Rouso, and Vanessa Selbst, to name a few—each of whom have enjoyed considerable success both online and in live arenas. Add to that list French poker pro Gaelle Baumann who is, perhaps, best known as the final table […]

The post Gaelle Baumann: How She Climbed the Ranks to Poker Success appeared first on Upswing Poker.

Andrew Robl is a 31-year-old poker pro who has experienced considerable success both online under his moniker, “good2cu” and on the live felt. The young internet phenom has made a successful migration from online to live play and continues to make a name for himself in the poker world. We’ll take a look at Robl’s […]

The post Andrew Robl: Profile of a “Holla Balla” appeared first on Upswing Poker.

26-year-old poker pro Joe McKeehen hails from North Wales, Pennsylvania. He is, perhaps, best known as the 2015 WSOP Main Event Champion. In the beginning  McKeehen won the Risk (board game) world championship in 2010 (I did not realize this was a thing.) He is an avid Philadelphia sports fan: Eagles, Flyers, and the 76ers. In […]

The post Joe McKeehen: A Tale of Two Bracelets—And Twitter appeared first on Upswing Poker.

While oftentimes regarded as quite funny at the poker table—due, largely, to his thick southern drawl—and is able to make others laugh, Sam Grizzle has a reputation for being an addictive gambler, a deadbeat dad, and, well, an asshole. Trying to find a Sam Grizzle biography online is like trying to find a needle in […]

The post Sam Grizzle: The Poker Brat’s Arch-Nemesis appeared first on Upswing Poker.

If you thought Mike Matusow had a mouth, please allow me to introduce William Kassouf. Have you ever been at a table where someone just talks and talks and drives you crazy? William “Will” Kassouf—also known as “The King of Speech Play”—is that person. William Kassouf finds poker The 35-year-old Londoner and former lawyer turned poker […]

The post William Kassouf: “King of Speech Play” appeared first on Upswing Poker.

There are professional poker players and then there are poker pros with additional impressive talents. In the same vein as Alex Jacob, poker and Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions champion, there is David Williams. In addition to being a talented and prolific poker pro, Williams was the runner up on Season 7 of the popular show […]

The post David Williams: Master Poker Chef appeared first on Upswing Poker.

A former high school and college basketball player turned American poker pro, Huck Seed is also an insane prop better. Early life Seed—born Huckleberry Seed in Santa Clara, California—was, incidentally, featured in the 2006 documentary Quantum Hoops that chronicled Cal Tech’s quest to end a 21-year losing streak. This makes sense since Seed is six-foot-six—or […]

The post Huck Seed: The King of Prop Bets appeared first on Upswing Poker.

Poker pro Sammy Farha is a prolific tournament player with three World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelets who is quite well known as the runner up to “every man” Chris Moneymaker in the 2003 WSOP Main Event. He is also a familiar face on GSN’s popular program High Stakes Poker. Farha is truly one-of-a-kind. His expensive […]

The post Sammy Farha: Fashion, Finesse, and Felt appeared first on Upswing Poker.

Known as “Poker Barbie,” Lacey Jones is among the most popular poker players in the world. In addition to her beauty, Jones is quite fascinating, having been a fashion model, international television host, poker commentator, and social network phenomenon. In the beginning Jones was born in San Antonio, Texas, in 1979 where—even though she enjoyed […]

The post Lacey Jones: Poker Barbie and so Much More appeared first on Upswing Poker.

Kevin Martin is a Canadian professional poker player, Big Brother Canada champion, and prominent Twitch live-streaming personality. The 25-year-old former radio DJ from Calgary, Alberta, has been playing his way up the online poker ranks. He now does so full-time thanks to tens of thousands of subscribers on Twitch, Twitter, and YouTube. While Martin occasionally […]

The post Kevin Martin: Big Brother Canada Winner and Twitch Sensation appeared first on Upswing Poker.

Jared Bleznick is a fixture at the Full Tilt Poker and PokerStars high-stakes tables, particularly PLO. He started playing high-stakes online poker under the name “Harrington25” on Full Tilt site and “Harrington10” on PokerStars. According to High Stakes Database, Harrington25 is currently ranked 34th with total cash game profits of nearly $2 million, and Harrington10 has won […]

The post Who is Jared Bleznick, and Why is He Controversial? appeared first on Upswing Poker.

Jared Bleznick is a fixture at the Full Tilt Poker and PokerStars high-stakes tables, particularly PLO. He started playing high-stakes online poker under the name “Harrington25” on Full Tilt site and “Harrington10” on PokerStars. According to High Stakes Database, Harrington25 is currently ranked 34th with total cash game profits of nearly $2 million, and Harrington10 has won […]

The post Who is Jared Bleznick, and Why is He Controversial? appeared first on Upswing Poker.

If you’re looking for a guy who does it all, look no further than Jeff Gross. Gross is known as “Kidwhowon” online. According to PocketFives, Kidwhowon’s online total winnings are nearly $1.13 million, and he is ranked 376th in the world. Gross is also becoming a social media icon. Early life Gross’ first dream was […]

The post Jeff Gross: Poker Pro and Social Media Sensation appeared first on Upswing Poker.

The uniquely named Greek-Canadian Haralobos Voulgaris, who goes by Bob or H-Bob, is a professional gambler who is considered to be one of the top NBA sports bettors in the entire world. He is also a talented and successful professional poker player to boot. Today Voulgaris boasts an incredible statistical database, a network of trusted […]

The post Haralobos Voulgaris: Poker Pro, NBA Bettor, Future GM? appeared first on Upswing Poker.

The uniquely named Greek-Canadian Haralobos Voulgaris, who goes by Bob or H-Bob, is a professional gambler who is considered to be one of the top NBA sports bettors in the entire world. He is also a talented and successful professional poker player to boot. Today Voulgaris boasts an incredible statistical database, a network of trusted […]

The post Haralobos Voulgaris: Poker Pro, NBA Bettor, Future GM? appeared first on Upswing Poker.

Poker pro David Peters has certainly been making quite the name for himself. The 31-year-old high-stakes tournament pro from Toledo, Ohio, nicknamed the “silent assassin” recently won the 2018 Poker Masters $100,000 NLHE Main Event and a hefty $1.15 million. David Peters decided to start playing poker after watching Chris Moneymaker emerge victorious in the […]

The post David Peters: The Silent Assassin appeared first on Upswing Poker.

73-year-old Gabe Kaplan has had quite the storied life. From baseball to comedy and acting to financial investing to playing poker to commentating, is there anything this man can’t do? The early years As a child in Brooklyn, NY, Gabe Kaplan aspired to be a professional baseball player. He was even invited to the San Francisco […]

The post Gabe Kaplan: Mr. Kotter, Financial Investor, and Poker Player appeared first on Upswing Poker.

From acclaimed actress to successful poker pro, Jennifer Tilly has accomplished much in her life. The (hard-to-believe) 59-year old bombshell with a truly distinctive voice and a flair for comedy is an Academy Award nominee and World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet winner whose presence graces every poker table at which she plays. Jennifer Tilly: […]

The post Jennifer Tilly: Life and Times of the Unabombshell appeared first on Upswing Poker.

From acclaimed actress to successful poker pro, Jennifer Tilly has accomplished much in her life. The (hard-to-believe) 59-year old bombshell with a truly distinctive voice and a flair for comedy is an Academy Award nominee and World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet winner whose presence graces every poker table at which she plays. Jennifer Tilly: […]

The post Jennifer Tilly: Life and Times of the Unabombshell appeared first on Upswing Poker.

Poker pro Justin Bonomo, known as ZeeJustin online, is probably best known (at the moment) for winning the 2018 World Series of Poker’s (WSOP) Big One for One Drop and a handsome $10 million. With this win, Bonomo surpassed former top earner Daniel Negreanu and now sits atop poker’s All Time Money List with total […]

The post Justin Bonomo the Biggest Winner in Poker History appeared first on Upswing Poker.

Model, actress and poker player Shannon Elizabeth is a multi-talented, beautiful woman with a big heart and incredibly positive attitude. Born Shannon Elizabeth Fadal in Houston, Texas, she is an exotic mix of Syrian, Lebanese, French, English, and Cherokee. Raised in Waco, Elizabeth was a cheerleader and played tennis in high school. During this time, […]

The post Shannon Elizabeth: Acting, Poker, and Saving the Planet appeared first on Upswing Poker.

Model, actress and poker player Shannon Elizabeth is a multi-talented, beautiful woman with a big heart and incredibly positive attitude. Born Shannon Elizabeth Fadal in Houston, Texas, she is an exotic mix of Syrian, Lebanese, French, English, and Cherokee. Raised in Waco, Elizabeth was a cheerleader and played tennis in high school. During this time, […]

The post Shannon Elizabeth: Acting, Poker, and Saving the Planet appeared first on Upswing Poker.

Anyone familiar with professional poker players should know about Antonio Esfandiari. Antonio “The Magician” does some awesome and elaborate chip tricks, and above all he is a world class poker player too! In this article we’ll take a look at: Antonio Esfandiari’s life before poker The Magician’s professional success Antonio Esfandiari’s top 10 hands  Also, […]

The post Antonio Esfandiari: Ten Best Hands appeared first on Upswing Poker.

Everyone knows Virginia is for lovers thanks to television advertising, but poker? Sure, why not? Just ask Phil Laak and Jennifer Tilly. Once upon a time, there was a handsome Irish poker pro and a gorgeous Hollywood actress who bonded at the poker table and have since been inseparable. Here is their tale. Phil Laak […]

The post Phil Laak and Jennifer Tilly: A Poker Love Story appeared first on Upswing Poker.

There is lots of money to be made playing poker. Many of poker’s best players have climbed the ladder and made millions on the live and virtual felt. Here are the top ten best poker players of all time based on tournament winnings. Honorable mentions How about a shout-out to numbers 11-20! 20. Jason Mercier […]

The post Best Poker Players of All Time, 1-10 appeared first on Upswing Poker.

Shaun Deeb is an American poker pro from Troy, New York, who boasts four World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelets, 17 WSOP money finishes, and five World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP) titles. Despite his performance on the felt, he is particularly well-known for his love of—and success with—the infamous slowroll. Who is Shaun Deeb? […]

The post Why Does Shaun Deeb Like to Slowroll his Opponents? appeared first on Upswing Poker.

Just say “Poker Brat” to anyone even remotely familiar with poker and they will immediately know who you’re talking about: the legendary Phil Hellmuth. Hellmuth is notorious for smack talking and being a sore loser, hence his derogatory nickname. In this article we will cover: Phil Hellmuth’s rise to become one of the most talented […]

The post The Poker Brat’s 12 Brattiest Moments at the Table appeared first on Upswing Poker.

2007 WSOP Main Event Champion Jerry Yang has been through a lot in his life. He fled Communist-occupied Laos, lived in a refugee camp in Thailand, won the WSOP Main Event for an epic $8.25 million, opened two restaurants, suffered the loss of his father, and had to deal with the IRS. Through it all, […]

The post What Has Jerry Yang Been Up to Since His WSOP Win? appeared first on Upswing Poker.

Even though Ali Imsirovic has only been playing poker professionally for a year and a half, he has, quite impressively, already built himself quite the resume. Almedin “Ali” Imsirovic credits Upswing Poker’s Lab with his impressive and rather quick journey from micro stakes to high rollers. He says the Lab made him realize some his […]

The post Ali Imsirovic: Profile of a Rising Poker Star appeared first on Upswing Poker.

Even though Ali Imsirovic has only been playing poker professionally for a year and a half, he has, quite impressively, already built himself quite the resume. Almedin “Ali” Imsirovic credits Upswing Poker’s Lab with his impressive and rather quick journey from micro stakes to high rollers. He says the Lab made him realize some his […]

The post Ali Imsirovic: Profile of a Rising Poker Star appeared first on Upswing Poker.

Jamie Kerstetter may not be a widely recognized name, but you should really familiarize yourself with one of the poker world’s most beloved members. Not only is Kerstetter one smart cookie—she graduated Rutgers University and obtained her J.D. from the University of Michigan—she is also quite an adept poker pro as well as a rising […]

The post Poker Pro and Media Darling Jamie Kerstetter: Tournaments, Sarcasm, and Twitter appeared first on Upswing Poker.

David Peat, better known as Viffer in the poker world, is a now-retired, high-stakes, predominantly cash player known for his skill and unorthodox play but may be even better known for his off-felt antics. In fact, just Google “Viffer stories” and you’ll have enough bathroom reading—and viewing material—for quite some time. Let’s just say he […]

The post The Wild, Crazy, and Unconventional David Peat, a.k.a. Viffer appeared first on Upswing Poker.

American poker pro Isaac Haxton is best known for his vast accomplishments in high-stakes online cash poker games and high-roller live tournaments. Born in New York City, the young-looking 32-year-old Haxton (who bears a slight resemblance to Harry Potter) was raised in Syracuse by his psychiatrist mother and English professor father. His father introduced Haxton […]

The post Isaac Haxton: On Poker and Refusing PokerStars’ Olive Branch appeared first on Upswing Poker.

Hailing from Vlissingen, Netherlands, and quite possibly having the coolest name ever, Dutch Poker pro Lex Veldhuis has made quite the name for himself across the globe. He is, perhaps, best known for Twitch streaming under his online moniker RaSZi, his PokerStars ambassadorship, and his strong social media presence. In the beginning Like many professional […]

The post Who is Lex Veldhuis? appeared first on Upswing Poker.

Dan Colman is an American professional poker player who hails from Holden, Massachusetts. He is best known for winning the World Series of Poker (WSOP) 2014 Big One for One Drop tournament at the age of 23, beating Daniel Negreanu heads-up. At the time, Colman took home the second-largest single payout in poker tournament history. […]

The post Who is Dan Colman? appeared first on Upswing Poker.

Native New Yorker Olivier Busquet is a unique, eclectic, and talented poker player, heralded as among the best heads-up, sit-and-go players in the world. Having gotten his start with online low-stakes games, Olivier Busquet has quickly progressed to high-stakes match-ups both online and live while building quite the bankroll along with impressive fame and fortune. His […]

The post Who is Poker Pro (and MMA Fighter?) Olivier Busquet? appeared first on Upswing Poker.

Gone are the days when poker was strictly “for the guys.” The ladies have arrived, and these female poker players are amazing! Take, for example, Barbara Enright. Enright was the first woman inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame, in 2007, right alongside “Poker Brat” Phil Hellmuth. Impressively, Enright is the only woman to have […]

The post The Top 20 Female Poker Players of All Time appeared first on Upswing Poker.

Gone are the days when poker was strictly “for the guys.” The ladies have arrived, and these female poker players are amazing! Take, for example, Barbara Enright. Enright was the first woman inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame, in 2007, right alongside “Poker Brat” Phil Hellmuth. Impressively, Enright is the only woman to have […]

The post The Top 20 Female Poker Players of All Time appeared first on Upswing Poker.

Thuận Scotty Nguyen is a well-known, lucky, adept, and oftentimes contentious Vietnamese American poker pro who currently resides in Las Vegas, Nevada. Nicknamed the “Prince of Poker,” the 55-year-old Nguyen has earned an impressive five WSOP bracelets. Additionally, he is the only player to have won both the Main Event and $50,000 Player’s Championship. In […]

The post The Charismatic Scotty Nguyen Defined in 6 Hands: That’s Poker Baby! appeared first on Upswing Poker.

Thuận Scotty Nguyen is a well-known, lucky, adept, and oftentimes contentious Vietnamese American poker pro who currently resides in Las Vegas, Nevada. Nicknamed the “Prince of Poker,” the 55-year-old Nguyen has earned an impressive five WSOP bracelets. Additionally, he is the only player to have won both the Main Event and $50,000 Player’s Championship. In […]

The post The Charismatic Scotty Nguyen Defined in 6 Hands: That’s Poker Baby! appeared first on Upswing Poker.

Once considered among the top online players in the world, Justin Schwartz, a.k.a. “StealthMunk,” has certainly earned a reputation in the live poker world as well. His most recent, shall we say, adventure involved his banishment by the World Series of Poker (WSOP) bigwigs. Justin Schwartz is best remembered for his WSOP exit on day […]

The post Why was Justin Schwartz, aka Stealthmunk, Banned from the WSOP? appeared first on Upswing Poker.

Who is Stu Unger? Many consider Stu Ungar to be the greatest Texas Hold’Em and gin rummy player of all time. What Bobby Fischer was to chess, Ungar was to gin and poker. Known for a genius-level IQ and eidetic memory, Ungar’s story is as impressive as it is tragic. Stu, a.k.a. “Stuey” Ungar and […]

The post Stu Ungar: A Legendary Poker Player and His Demons appeared first on Upswing Poker.

Who is Eli Elezra? Eli Elezra, an Israeli poker professional and businessman, has made quite a name for himself in both pusuits. Also known as “Mr. Vegas” and “Wizard”, 57-year-old Elezra was born and raised in Jerusalem, and he currently resides in Henderson, Nevada, a suburb of Las Vegas. In addition to starting several successful […]

The post Eli Elezra: Family Man, Businessman, Poker Pro appeared first on Upswing Poker.

John Hennigan the poker player (not to be confused with John Hennigan wrestler) is an American pro who hails from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His claim to fame is his impressive four World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelets and a World Poker Tour (WPT) title. Thus far, anyway. Before his impressive poker career, Hennigan was a professional […]

The post John Hennigan: From Pool Shark to Poker Pro appeared first on Upswing Poker.