Brian Yoon

Brian Yoon was born in 1992 in Torrance, California, and later resided in Los Angeles. He graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 2012 with a degree in economics. During his time at UCLA, he began playing poker casually before transitioning to a professional career after graduation. His early exposure to online tournaments helped him develop a strong foundation in no-limit hold'em.

Yoon's first major live cash came in the 2011 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event, where he finished 58th out of 6,865 players, earning $130,997. This deep run provided the confidence and bankroll to pursue poker full-time. Over the next two years, he continued to grind live and online tournaments, building a reputation for consistently navigating large fields.

In 2013, Yoon captured his first WSOP bracelet in Event #58: $1,111 Little One for One Drop, outlasting 4,756 entrants to win $663,727. He followed this with a second bracelet in 2014, winning Event #35: $5,000 No-Limit Hold'em Eight-Handed for $633,341. These victories established him as a force in no-limit hold'em, but he soon expanded into mixed games.

Yoon's third bracelet came in 2017 during Event #47: $1,500 Monster Stack, where he bested a field of 6,716 players to win $1,094,349 – his largest live cash to date. This event showcased his ability to thrive in massive tournament fields, a skill he attributes to aggressive play and exploiting opponents' fear of elimination.

After several years of focusing on mixed games, Yoon won his fourth bracelet in 2021 in Event #57: $10,000 Limit 2-7 Lowball Triple Draw Championship for $240,341. He had dedicated significant time during the COVID-19 pandemic to studying the game, using online platforms like PokerStars SCOOP and WCOOP to sharpen his skills. In 2023, he added a fifth bracelet by winning Event #14: $10,000 Seven Card Stud Championship for $311,433, demonstrating his versatility across poker variants.

Yoon is known for his calm demeanor and technical precision at the table. In no-limit hold'em, he employs an aggressive style that pressures opponents post-flop, using positional advantages and well-timed bluffs. He emphasizes risk management and emotional control, particularly in deep-stacked tournament phases where many amateurs become risk-averse. As he told Card Player magazine, "If you are not afraid to be eliminated, you can take advantage of this situation and get deep in these tournaments."

In mixed games, Yoon's analytical approach shines. He began playing limit 2-7 triple draw for fun about six or seven years ago but became captivated by the game's blend of simplicity and gambling elements. During the pandemic, he focused on studying the game, reading strategy and playing online, which led to his 2021 bracelet. He also excels at Open Face Chinese, a variant he has taught and discussed on training sites like Run It Once.

Yoon's transition to mixed games broadened his tournament schedule. He frequently plays WSOP events across variants like H.O.R.S.E., Razz, and eight-game mix. In 2025, he finished third in the $10,000 Razz Championship for $142,579, and in 2026, he was runner-up in Event #6: $1,500 Seven Card Stud, narrowly missing a sixth bracelet. He also placed 11th in the $10,000 H.O.R.S.E. Championship in 2026. As of 2026, his total live tournament earnings exceed $7.7 million, according to PokerNews, though The Hendon Mob reported $7,112,636 from earlier data.

Brian Yoon is one of the most successful Korean-American poker players in history, with five WSOP bracelets spanning a decade. His ability to excel in both massive no-limit fields and niche mixed games has earned him respect from peers. He is active on social media under the handle @byoonz, sharing insights and personal updates. Yoon's career underscores the importance of continuous learning and adaptability, inspiring a new generation of players to explore diverse poker disciplines. He remains a fixture at the WSOP, consistently adding to his résumé with deep runs and final-table appearances.