David Benyamine

David Benyamine was born on July 5, 1972, in Paris, France. Before turning to poker, he pursued a professional career in tennis, but a shoulder injury forced him to retire from the sport. He also achieved success as a top-ten billiards player in France during his youth. Benyamine learned poker at the age of 12 and began playing seriously at the Aviation Club de France. His early success in Parisian tournaments laid the groundwork for a career that would see him become one of France's most accomplished poker players.

Benyamine's live tournament cashes date back to June 1999, with several five-figure scores in 2000, including a $48,944 cash. From 1999 until early 2002, all of his results came in Paris-based events. He burst onto the international stage in July 2003 by winning the €10,000 WPT Grand Prix de Paris for €357,200 ($410,886), his first major title. In 2004, he finished sixth in the $10,000 WPT L.A. Poker Classic for $132,355. Over the next two decades, Benyamine consistently posted deep runs in high-stakes tournaments, earning over $9 million in live tournament winnings as of 2025. His best live cash came in January 2011 when he placed third in the A$250,000 Aussie Millions Super High Roller, collecting $1,087,924.

Benyamine primarily focused on cash games in the early part of his career, but friends encouraged him to play more tournaments starting with the 2008 World Series of Poker. That summer proved to be his most successful WSOP campaign: he finished 10th in $5,000 Stud Hi-Lo, seventh in No-Limit 2-7, and third in $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha before winning the $10,000 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better event for $535,687, earning his first WSOP bracelet. His total WSOP cashes in 2008 amounted to $941,651. In 2010, he finished 58th in the WSOP Main Event. Other notable WSOP results include a fourth-place finish in the 2013 $50,000 Poker Players Championship ($497,122), third in the 2021 $25,000 H.O.R.S.E. ($236,626), sixth in the 2021 $25,000 PLO High Roller ($205,655), and fifth in the 2024 $50,000 Poker Players Championship ($265,054). He has also cashed in multiple WSOP events in 2024, 2025, and 2026, demonstrating enduring competitiveness.

Benyamine has made four final tables in World Poker Tour open events. In addition to his 2003 Grand Prix de Paris victory, he finished second in the 2008 Bellagio Cup IV, earning $840,295; sixth in the 2004 L.A. Poker Classic; and fourth in the 2010 WPT Championship, taking $329,228. He also won the WPT Battle of Champions II invitational event, defeating a final table that included Hoyt Corkins, Mel Judah, Antonio Esfandiari, and Phil Laak. Outside the WPT, he won the Premier League of Poker IV and has a deep run in the European Poker Tour, including a final table in the 2008 EPT London Main Event ($65,720) and a cash in the £20,300 High Roller ($126,346).

Benyamine is best known for his presence in high-stakes cash games, particularly Pot-Limit Omaha. He is a regular in the Bellagio's Legend's Room (formerly Bobby's Room) in Las Vegas, playing against the world's best professionals. He also played online poker under his own name at Full Tilt Poker until the site shut down. His loose-aggressive and often unorthodox style made him a fixture on televised cash game shows such as Poker After Dark, where he won Week 9 of Season III for $120,000. Benyamine's ability to handle large swings and maintain focus in marathon sessions has earned him respect among high-stakes peers.

Benyamine excels in mixed games like Omaha, Seven-Card Stud, and H.O.R.S.E. He is described as a loose-aggressive player who leverages position and reads opponent tendencies effectively. Despite his aggressive approach, he is known for his patience, emotional control, and polite demeanor at the table, earning him the nickname the "French Gentleman" (also called "Napoleon" or "Degenyamine"). He rarely makes impulsive decisions and is recognized for his ability to keep cool under pressure. His transition from tennis—a sport that requires discipline and mental toughness—helped shape his poker mindset.

Benyamine resides in Henderson, Nevada, a suburb of Las Vegas. He has one daughter and was formerly engaged to professional poker and blackjack player Erica Schoenberg, though the couple have since separated. In the poker community, he is regarded as a private individual who focuses primarily on his game.