Brandon Sheils

Brandon Sheils is a premier British professional poker player from Birmingham, England. As of 2026, his live tournament earnings exceed $3,100,000, placing him among the top UK players on the all-time money list. He is known for his deep understanding of poker tells, a subject he formally studied, and his ability to combine psychological insight with GTO strategy.

Sheils learned poker from his parents at age eight and played home games and pub poker before turning 18. He later played at Dusk Till Dawn (DTD) in Nottingham and began playing professionally in September 2014, though poker had already funded his university degree. By age 23, he had over half a million dollars in live tournament profits.

2018 WSOP Main Event

Sheils’s breakout performance came in the 2018 World Series of Poker Main Event, where he finished fourth for $2,600,000 – his largest single cash to date.

2025 WSOP

In 2025, he finished fifth in the $5,000 No-Limit Hold'em 6-Handed event, contributing to his best cash year ($696,389).

2026 Dominance

Sheils started 2026 with a victory in the GUKPT London £2,500 High Roller, earning £49,560 ($66,410). He also won the UK Poker Championships and finished fifth in the GUKPT London £1,250 Main Event for $118,938. In the 2026 WSOPE €5,300 Main Event in Prague, he entered the final 25 as one of the top chip leaders with 15,935,000 chips.

Sheils holds a Master’s in Psychology and conducted formal research on poker tells and nonverbal behavior. This expertise allows him to read opponents with clinical accuracy. He combines this with a refined GTO strategy, making him a formidable tournament player. He advocates for proper preparation—sleep, meditation, and hydration—as keys to mindset.

Sheils is a coach for Upswing Poker and runs a popular YouTube channel where he breaks down high-stakes hands. He also writes about poker and shares his insights on strategy and psychological aspects.

Sheils cites players like Steve O'Dwyer, Steffen Sontheimer, and Charlie Carrel as inspirations. He emphasizes that loving the game is essential to survive its ups and downs, and he values the freedom to travel (having played in Vegas, Bahamas, Macau, Australia, and more).