Gavin Griffin

Gavin Griffin was born on August 28, 1981, in Darien, Illinois. He attended Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas. Starting as an online poker player, he successfully transitioned to live tournaments. In 2004, at the age of 22, he entered the World Series of Poker (WSOP) and won the $3,000 Pot Limit Hold'em event, earning $270,420. This victory made him the youngest WSOP bracelet winner at the time, breaking Allen Cunningham's record. Griffin lost that record the following year to Eric Froehlich.

Griffin's WSOP career includes one bracelet and 27 cashes totaling over $784,000. His best Main Event finish came in 2016 when he placed 505th. In 2012, he finished as runner-up in the $1,500 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better event for $163,625. Other WSOP highlights include a 7th-place finish in the 2007 World Championship Pot Limit Hold'em event, earning $87,940. He also placed 3rd in a WSOP Circuit event at Harrah's Rincon in San Diego.

Griffin etched his name in poker history by becoming the first player to win titles on all three major tournament circuits: WSOP, World Poker Tour (WPT), and European Poker Tour (EPT). After his WSOP bracelet, he won the 2007 EPT Monte Carlo Grand Final, taking home €1,825,010 (approximately $2,434,061) after qualifying via a $240 online satellite on PokerStars. That victory made him the all-time EPT money leader at the time. The following year, he won the 2008 WPT Borgata Winter Open for $1,322,493, completing the Triple Crown. Since then, only four other players—Roland De Wolfe, Jake Cody, Davidi Kitai, and Bertrand Grospellier—have matched this feat.

Beyond his Triple Crown wins, Griffin has numerous other notable results. He finished 3rd in a WSOP Circuit Championship Event at Harrah's Rincon, and in 2007 he was 7th in the WSOP Pot Limit Hold'em Championship. his lifetime live tournament earnings exceed $5,095,951, ranking him among the most successful players of his generation.

Griffin is known for a tight-aggressive (TAG) style, emphasizing patience, positional awareness, and precise hand selection. He excelled in pot-limit and mixed games, as evidenced by his WSOP bracelet in Pot Limit Hold'em and deep runs in Omaha and stud variants. His ability to adapt across different formats was key to his Triple Crown success.

Griffin has been active in breast cancer awareness causes. He famously dyed his hair pink during his EPT Monte Carlo win to support the cause. He has also participated in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in Long Beach, California, in 2007 and 2009, alongside teammates and his fiancée Amy Roberts. He credits much of his success to the support of his friends, family, and Amy.

The EPT Monte Carlo Grand Final was the largest poker tournament held outside the United States at the time, with 706 players creating a €6,636,400 ($8.8 million) prize pool. Griffin entered the final table as chip leader. Notable opponents included Andrew Black and Ram Vaswani. Griffin's victory paid him $2,429,103, making him the all-time EPT money leader.

Griffin is ranked 415th on the All Time Money List as of early 2025, with live earnings surpassing $5 million. His WSOP career includes 27 in-the-money finishes, one bracelet, and a runner-up finish in 2012. He is one of only five players to have won a WSOP bracelet, an EPT title, and a WPT title, cementing his legacy as a pioneer of the Triple Crown.