Poker Stories

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 ever, getting $1 million to sign with PokerStars, dealing with all the haters and embracing the spotlight, paying his carjacker's parking tickets, why boat people got money, the trouble with running your own poker room, forgetting six-figure pots, and playing in a $100-$200-$900 game.

10 Heinä 201755min

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 was the last woman standing in the main event.

26 Kesä 201759min

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.

12 Kesä 20171h 25min

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.

29 Touko 20171h 4min

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.

15 Touko 201754min

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.

1 Touko 20171h 10min

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.

17 Huhti 201759min

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.

3 Huhti 201751min