The UK’s Most Successful Poker Players at the WSOP
Every summer, Las Vegas is the place to be for the world’s best poker players. Ever since its inauguration in 1970, “Sin City” has been the consistent home of the World Series of Poker (WSOP).
From humble beginnings, the WSOP has expanded into the biggest and one of the most coveted live poker festivals worldwide. It brings all facets of the poker community together, from seasoned pros and online grinders to committed amateurs. All rock up to Vegas with a chip and a chair and one dream – to win a priceless WSOP bracelet.
Many British poker players make the pilgrimage to the WSOP every year. This festival isn’t just about the big prize pools. It’s about rubbing shoulders with poker royalty and pitting your wits against the best in the business.
The WSOP Main Event is the pinnacle for any poker player. It’s the biggest live poker event on the planet and the one title that everyone wants to win. Since the boom of online poker, it’s been possible for online players to qualify for the WSOP Main Event via online satellites without having to buy in directly for the $10,000 entry fee.
In the UK, GGPoker now operates the online qualifiers for the biggest WSOP tournaments, including the Main Event. Satellites have become the go-to route for Brits looking to win their way to Vegas without spending a fortune.
The platform also has one of the best poker bonuses in the UK, with new players able to get matched deposit bonuses that release gradually as you play. The speed at which the bonus is released is linked to cash game rake or tournament fees.
With qualifiers available, the cost of buy-ins to tournaments like the Main Event is no longer as much of a concern. Let’s talk about some of the British poker legends that have left an indelible mark on the WSOP scene.
Benny Glaser
There is no-one who can compare with Benny Glaser right now. He is out on his own as the most successful Brit in WSOP history. The 35-year-old from Southampton, Hampshire, has five WSOP bracelets to his name. This isn’t just the greatest number of WSOP bracelets won by any British player. It’s the most bracelets won by any player from Europe.
Glaser has established himself as a mixed-game king. He’s won WSOP bracelets in Limit Triple Draw, Razz, and Omaha Hi-Lo. These are the sort of games where true poker buffs shine. To date, Glaser has racked up more than $7 million in live poker winnings, with more than $1.3 million generated from his WSOP bracelets alone.
Stephen Chidwick
Stephen Chidwick is one of the true masterminds of the modern poker era. He just happens to be British, too. He ranks first on the all-time money list of English poker players and third on the all-time money list of players worldwide. To date, he’s raked in over $64 million in live poker earnings and that’s sure to be higher still if you include online events.
Chidwick bagged his inaugural WSOP bracelet in 2019, taking down the Pot-Limit Omaha High Roller event for a cool $1.6 million. He’s long been at the business end of the WSOP’s high-roller tournaments, winning his second WSOP bracelet at the WSOP Paradise Pot Limit Omaha event in The Bahamas in December 2024.
Robert Cowen
Robert Cowen is a Welsh poker player that’s exploded onto the WSOP scene in recent years. In November 2021, Cowen won his first WSOP bracelet, taking down the 6-Handed Pot Limit Omaha event for a first prize worth over $280,000. In June 2022, he returned to win the 8-Handed Pot Limit Omaha High Roller, scooping almost $1.4 million in the process.
His decision to enter this $50,000-entry event was likely motivated by winning the European Poker Tour (EPT) Prague High Roller event for over €475,000. Cowen is already second on the all-time money list of Welsh poker players and fast gaining on current leader, Roberto Romanello.
Other notable mentions to British WSOP stars include poker icon, Barny Boatman, Chris Moorman, and the “Iron Maiden” herself Liv Boeree.