Benjamin Tollerene

Benjamin Tollerene was born on December 20, 1986, in Fort Worth, Texas, and currently resides in Vancouver, Canada. He is widely recognized as one of the top high-stakes poker players in the world, particularly in Pot-Limit Omaha (PLO) and mixed games. Tollerene began playing poker online during his college years and quickly rose through the ranks of the high-stakes community.

Tollerene rose to prominence online under the aliases "Ben86" on PokerStars and "Bttech86" on Full Tilt Poker. He amassed over $11 million in online cash game winnings, including $3.8 million on PokerStars and $7.4 million on Full Tilt. His largest single online tournament cash was $616,518 for winning a $51,000 No-Limit Hold'em High Roller event at the 2015 PokerStars World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP). Tollerene is known for his extreme volatility, once losing $1.7 million to Viktor Blom ("Isildur1") in a single night before winning it all back within the next 24 hours. This epic session has become part of poker lore and cemented his reputation as a fearless competitor.

Tollerene is revered for his prowess in high-stakes cash games, both online and live. He has been a regular in the biggest games on PokerStars and Full Tilt, often playing multiple tables simultaneously. His aggressive, pressure-heavy style makes him a formidable opponent, and he has frequently been involved in sessions with other high-stakes legends like Phil Ivey, Patrik Antonius, and Tom Dwan. Tollerene's cash game earnings are estimated to be far higher than his recorded online totals, as many results are not publicly tracked. In live cash games, he is a regular at the highest stakes in Las Vegas, Macau, and other international venues.

Although Tollerene primarily prefers cash games, his live tournament results are remarkable. His first recorded live score came in August 2008. In December 2008, he finished 17th in the $15,400 WPT Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic for $57,645. At the 2011 World Series of Poker (WSOP), he placed seventh in the $10,000 No-Limit Hold'em 6-Handed Championship, earning $99,493. Tollerene started 2016 with a runner-up finish in the $100K Challenge at the Aussie Millions for $646,962 and ended the year with a victory in the $50,000 buy-in No-Limit High Roller at the Rock N Roll Poker Open for $459,228.

Tollerene's first seven-figure live score came in May 2017 when he finished third in a $100,000 Aria Super High Roller for $1,026,416. In September 2019, he won the £103,000 British Poker Open event for £840,000 ($1,037,229). At the 2024 WSOP, Tollerene finished second in the $250,000 No-Limit Hold'em Super High Roller for $3,537,135, losing heads-up to India's Santhosh Suvarna. That same year at WSOP Paradise, he was runner-up in the $100,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Super High Roller for $1,577,660. In 2025, Tollerene placed third in the WSOP $50,000 No-Limit Hold'em High Roller for $914,634 and eighth in the $250,000 Super High Roller for $581,411. As of 2025, 38 of his live scores are worth at least $100,000, with five over $1 million.

Tollerene has found particular success on the Triton Poker Series, winning several prestigious events:

In addition, he cashed for a combined $970,300 in three events at the 2024 Triton Montenegro festival. At the 2026 Triton Montenegro series, Tollerene made multiple final tables, including seventh in the $75k PLO ($191,500) and sixth in the $50k PLO Mystery Bounty ($75,000).

Tollerene also triumphed in several PokerGO Tour events:

These victories highlight his versatility across both No-Limit Hold'em and Pot-Limit Omaha formats.

Tollerene is known for his aggressive, high-pressure approach, excelling in post-flop play and range analysis. He is equally adept in No-Limit Hold'em and Pot-Limit Omaha, often switching strategies seamlessly. Despite a relatively low public profile, his online persona "Ben86" has become a benchmark in high-stakes circles, and he is feared by opponents for his ability to apply constant pressure. Tollerene is widely considered one of the best cash game players in the world, and his live tournament results have solidified his place in poker history. As of 2026, he continues to dominate both online and live arenas, with career earnings exceeding $37 million in live tournaments and over $11 million online.

In 2025, Tollerene added several notable cashes, including $914,634 for third place in the WSOP $50,000 No-Limit Hold'em High Roller and $581,411 for eighth in the $250,000 Super High Roller. He also won the Triton Montenegro $100,000 PLO Main Event for $2.39 million. In 2026, he captured the Triton Jeju $100,000 NLH Main Event for $3,766,000, the largest score of his career. At the 2026 Triton Montenegro series, he made five final tables, including a seventh in the $75k PLO ($191,500) and a sixth in the $50k PLO Mystery Bounty ($75,000). These performances underscore his sustained excellence against elite competition.

Despite his massive success, Tollerene maintains a low profile and rarely gives interviews. He resides in Vancouver, Canada, and is known to be deeply analytical about the game, often studying hands and strategies obsessively. He is considered one of the most feared opponents in high-stakes cash games, and his epic session against Viktor Blom in 2013 is frequently cited as one of the most dramatic in online poker history. Tollerene also holds the distinction of being the all-time leading money earner from Texas, his home state, with over $22 million in live earnings according to The Hendon Mob.