Griffin Benger

Born in Canada, Griffin Benger is a poker professional who first gained prominence in competitive gaming. Before turning to poker, he was a top-tier Counter-Strike player, competing for elite teams in the early 2000s and reaching the highest levels of that first-person-shooter scene. Benger has said that he tends to pick up skills quickly, and poker was no exception. A friend suggested he try the game, and he soon displayed strong aptitude, transitioning from gaming tables to card tables.

Benger built his bankroll and reputation online under the screen name "Flush_Entity." He became a regular winner in high-stakes games on PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker, facing many of the toughest players of the era. His online tournament cashes reportedly surpass $6.4 million in total. In 2014, he reached the No. 1 spot on PocketFives' worldwide online poker rankings, confirming his status as one of the best internet players in the world. That online success gave him both the financial freedom and the tactical foundation needed to attack live tournaments.

Benger started playing live tournament circuits more actively in 2013. His defining live result came at the 2016 World Series of Poker Main Event in Las Vegas. Entering the November Nine final table among the chip leaders, he battled through a marathon session before being eliminated in seventh place, earning $1,250,190. That score remains the largest of his career and moved him near the top of Canada's all-time tournament money list.

Beyond the Main Event, Benger has collected numerous WSOP cashes across different formats and years:

• 2015 WSOP $3,000 Six-Handed: 51st place, $8,627
• 2017 WSOP $3,000 event: 87th place, $6,396
• 2018 WSOP $5,000 event: 15th place, $19,280
• 2019 WSOP $3,000 Six-Handed: 32nd place, $9,494
• 2024 WSOP Main Event: 1,442nd place, $15,000

These results demonstrate consistent deep runs rather than a single bright spot.

Benger remains active and successful in the current poker economy. He won the $1,100 Super Turbo event at the 2023 NAPT Las Vegas for $17,250. In 2024, he took down the €1,050 Super Turbo Freezeout at EPT Paris for €47,088. He also finished as runner-up in the $1,000 Colossus on the 2025 WSOP International Circuit stop in Canada, collecting $66,669.

His record features deep runs in major European events as well. At the EPT Barcelona Main Event, he placed 56th in 2019 and 160th in 2024. At the 2025 Irish Poker Open, he finished 383rd. The most recent recorded cash on his resume is $5,152 on May 17, 2026, and his lifetime live earnings stood at $4,707,044 from 83 cashes at that point. Earlier records showed $4,701,893 from 82 cashes after a December 11, 2025 result of $42,675.

Benger became widely known to casual poker fans through a televised hand on Late Night Poker opposite British player William Kassouf. With nine-high, Benger executed a bold river bluff and forced Kassouf to fold a stronger hand. The hand became a viral moment in poker culture, often summed up by the phrase "nine-high, like a boss." It is still cited as an example of fearless reading and courage under pressure.

Benger's style is generally described as tight-aggressive. He is selective before the flop but uses position and range advantage to apply pressure after the flop. He is especially strong in deep-stack situations, making precise decisions on the river for both value and bluffs. His balanced, disciplined approach makes him difficult to exploit, which helps explain his sustained success at high-stakes cash games and tournament final tables.

As of his latest recorded live results, Benger has more than $4.7 million in live tournament earnings and 83 recorded cashes. He sits roughly 25th on Canada's all-time money list. He has yet to win a WSOP bracelet, but his combination of online dominance, a Main Event final table, and consistent live results marks him as one of Canada's most accomplished players. His journey from elite Counter-Strike professional to high-stakes poker player makes him a rare example of a competitor succeeding at the top of two very different disciplines.