Charlie Carrel

Charles Francis Carrel was born on 7 November 1993 in St. Brelade, Jersey, in the Channel Islands. When he was seven years old, his family moved to London, England, where he has resided ever since. Carrel's early life included a troubled period; he has openly discussed a past involvement with drug dealing before turning fully to poker. His poker journey began with a modest £10 deposit on online platforms, which he methodically turned into a substantial bankroll, eventually amassing over £3,000,000 by April 2017. By May 2015, he had already won over £1 million playing poker online and live.

Carrel plays on PokerStars under the screen name "Epiphany77". He is widely recognized for his high-stakes online cash game exploits and educational streams. In 2020, he won the WPT Online Super High Roller tournament, earning $600,250. His online success is remarkable for the rapid growth from a small deposit to a multi-millionaire, a story he has shared in interviews and podcasts. Carrel's approach to online poker focuses on exploitative play rather than GTO, adjusting his strategies based on opponents' tendencies. He has also co-owned a poker training platform and regularly produces video content analyzing high-stakes hands.

Carrel's live tournament results are impressive, with total career earnings of $9,614,814 as recorded by The Hendon Mob, placing him 165th on the all-time money list and 8th among English players. His best live cash came in August 2019 when he won the £50,000 buy-in no-limit hold'em eight-max event at the Triton Poker Super High Roller Series in London, taking home $1,601,853. Earlier, in November 2014, he won a London tournament for £108,625. In May 2015, he took down the PokerStars European Tour High Roller in Monte Carlo, defeating 215 opponents for a significant prize. He also finished 5th in a Malta tournament for €183,800 earlier that year.

At the World Series of Poker, Carrel has made eight money finishes without a bracelet. His deepest Main Event run came in 2017, finishing 88th for $72,514. In the same year, he placed 3rd in the $10,000 Heads-Up Championship for $125,454, and 9th in the WSOP Europe €111,111 High Roller for One Drop for €295,131. He also cashed in the $111,111 High Roller for One Drop at the 2017 WSOP, finishing 15th for $187,772. Other notable WSOP results include a 15th-place finish in the $10,000 Six-Handed Championship and a 68th-place in a $3,000 event.

Carrel is known for an extremely aggressive and psychological style at the tables. He heavily leverages position and range advantages, often putting opponents to tough decisions with unconventional bets and raises. His teaching emphasizes exploitative play rather than theoretical equilibrium, advocating for adjusting to opponents' specific weaknesses. He has stated that reading opponents and applying psychological pressure are key components of his success. His educational content, often in the form of live streams and hand review videos, is aimed at intermediate to advanced players looking to incorporate exploitative strategies.

Beyond poker, Carrel is the founder of Thrive Charity UK, an organization dedicated to supporting mental health and well-being. He has been open about his own struggles and the importance of mental health in the poker community. Carrel is also known for his outspoken and sometimes controversial personality, which has made him a polarizing figure but also a popular content creator. He continues to live in London and remains active in both online poker and charitable endeavors.