Cliff Josephy

Cliff D. Josephy was born and raised in Syosset, New York (later residing in Muttontown). He built his poker reputation online under the screen name "JohnnyBax," becoming one of the most recognizable figures in the early online poker boom. At various times he held the number-one ranking on PocketFives.com for online tournament players. Josephy parlayed his online success into a live tournament career, transitioning seamlessly to high-stakes events.

Josephy captured his first WSOP bracelet in 2005, winning the $1,500 Seven-Card Stud event for $192,150, defeating fellow professional Kirill Gerasimov heads-up. He added a second bracelet in 2013, taking down the $3,000 No-Limit Hold'em Shootout for $299,486. His most notable WSOP result came in the 2016 Main Event, where he finished third out of 6,737 players, earning $3,453,035 – his largest live cash to date. Overall, he has 18 WSOP money finishes, two bracelets, and seven final tables according to WSOP.com statistics.

Beyond the WSOP, Josephy has consistently performed in World Poker Tour events. He has two WPT final tables and 11 money finishes, including deep runs in the WPT Five Diamond World Poker Classic, WPT Borgata Poker Open, and WPT World Championship. He also cashed in the 2019 and 2024 WPT Prime Championships. On the PokerGO Tour, he final-tabled a $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha event in 2023 (4th for $100,800) and won a $3,000 No-Limit Hold'em Six-Max event in 2022 for $154,670. His total live tournament earnings exceed $8.4 million, placing him in the top 215 on the all-time money list.

Josephy is renowned as a pioneer of online poker. His alias "JohnnyBax" became synonymous with success on platforms like PokerStars and Full Tilt. He has worked as a poker instructor for PokerXFactor and, together with Eric Haber, produced numerous training videos featuring professional players. Josephy also famously held a 50% stake in Joe Cada when Cada won the 2009 WSOP Main Event, earning a significant share of the $8.5 million first prize. This investment highlighted his keen eye for talent and strategic backing.

Josephy remains active in tournaments as of 2025. Recent cashes include 112th in the 2024 WPT World Championship ($35,500) and 693rd in the 2025 WPT Prime Championship ($2,480). He also notched a 6th-place finish in a PGT Pot-Limit Omaha event in October 2023 ($61,800). With two WSOP bracelets, a Main Event podium finish, and a reputation as an online legend, Josephy is respected for his fundamental skills, calm demeanor, and adaptability. He continues to share his knowledge through coaching and occasional streaming, cementing his place in poker history.

Josephy received the PocketFives Legacy Award for his longstanding impact on online tournament poker. He is also listed as a WSOP Bracelet Winner on the Hendon Mob database. As of 2025, he ranks 207th on the all-time live earnings list with over $8.48 million.

In addition to his major scores, Josephy has consistently cashed in high-profile events. In 2019, he placed 74th in the WPT Five Diamond World Poker Classic for $23,830 and 58th in the WPT Borgata Poker Open for $10,183. In 2021, he finished 27th in the Wynn Millions for $74,522. These results underscore his sustained success across multiple tours.

Josephy has been a guest on notable poker podcasts, including the Gpithm Poker Podcast Network and HU4Rolls, where he discussed his career, the 2016 Main Event run, and his online poker background. These appearances showcase his enduring relevance and willingness to share insights with the poker community.

As of 2025, Hendon Mob reports Josephy's total live earnings at $8,484,771, ranking 197th on the all-time money list. His best live cash remains $3,453,035 from the 2016 WSOP Main Event. He also holds the PocketFives Legacy Award and is recognized as a WSOP Bracelet Winner. His consistent cashes have kept him among the top 200 earners in poker history.