Phil Gordon biography
Phil Gordon was born on 6 July 1970 in El Paso, Texas. He started at Georgia Tech at 15 and graduated in computer science in 1991, then worked as the first hire at Netsys Technologies. After Cisco bought the company in 1996 he retired from tech and turned to poker.
Gordon finished 4th in the 2001 World Series of Poker Main Event, won the $5,000 WPT Bay 101 Shooting Star in 2004 for $360,000 and took the 2006 Full Tilt Poker Championship at Red Rock for $600,000. In 2010 he won the WSOP Ante Up for Africa charity event and donated the whole $129,086 prize.
He was a commentator on Bravo's Celebrity Poker Showdown for seven seasons and has written five poker books, among them Poker: The Real Deal and the "Little" series. In 2003 he and Rafe Furst created Bad Beat on Cancer, whose players pledge 1% of their winnings to cancer research. He has more than $2.7 million in live earnings.
Career summary
Phil Gordon is a WPT champion, Celebrity Poker Showdown commentator and best-selling poker author who finished 4th in the 2001 Main Event.
Phil Gordon poker winnings
| Year | Event | Place | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | WSOP Ante Up for Africa | 1st | $129,086 |
| 2006 | Full Tilt Poker Championship at Red Rock | 1st | $600,000 |
| 2004 | WPT Bay 101 Shooting Star | 1st | $360,000 |
Verified live tournament earnings: $2,700,000+.
Phil Gordon playing style
Gordon is an analytical, mathematically minded player who became known for clearly explaining strategy to new players.
Business & sponsorships
Author of five poker books, including Phil Gordon's Little Green Book; early employee of Netsys Technologies before its sale to Cisco.
Why Phil matters
Phil Gordon left the tech industry to play poker, finished 4th in the 2001 Main Event and became one of the best-known faces of the poker boom as a commentator and author.
FAQ about Phil Gordon
What is Phil Gordon known for?
Commentating on Celebrity Poker Showdown, writing the "Little" series of poker books and finishing 4th in the 2001 Main Event.
Has Phil Gordon won a WPT title?
Yes, the 2004 WPT Bay 101 Shooting Star, for $360,000.
What is Bad Beat on Cancer?
A charity initiative he created with Rafe Furst in 2003, in which players pledge 1% of their winnings to cancer research.
How much has Phil Gordon won playing poker?
Phil Gordon has won $2,700,000+ in live tournament earnings.
How many WSOP bracelets does Phil Gordon have?
Phil Gordon has not won a WSOP bracelet yet.
