James Obst

James Obst was born on 3 August 1990 in Adelaide, Australia, and attended St Peter's College. He was an accomplished junior chess player, representing Australia three times at the World Junior Chess Championship. He began playing poker at age 14, starting with no-limit hold'em at $0.02/$0.04 stakes and later exploring Stud Hi-Lo. His early exposure to strategic games like chess laid a strong foundation for his poker career.

Playing under the alias "Andy McLEOD" (a nod to former Adelaide Crows footballer Andrew McLeod), Obst quickly made his mark online. He has won four Spring Championship of Online Poker (SCOOP) titles, a World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP) title, and a Full Tilt Online Poker Series (FTOPS) tournament. Specifically, he won FTOPS IV event No. 9, a $100 no-limit hold'em tournament with rebuys, for $75,482. He also took down the Full Tilt $1K Monday for $52,260. Remarkably, he won two online bracelets within just 40 days. By age 19, he had already accumulated over $1.5 million in online winnings. His online prowess earned him recognition as a rising star, with many in the poker community impressed by his versatility across various poker variants. He was often hailed as the next big poker star due to his rapid success.

Obst's first recorded live cash came in 2009. At the World Series of Poker (WSOP), he has amassed 55 cashes, 16 final tables, and two bracelets. His first bracelet came in 2017, winning the $10,000 Razz Championship for $265,138 after twice finishing runner-up in previous years. He won his second bracelet in 2024 in the $10,000 Seven Card Stud Championship for $260,658. His versatility in mixed games is evident from these wins and deep runs in similar events.

His largest live cash came from a 13th-place finish in the 2016 WSOP Main Event, earning $427,930. Other notable results include a runner-up finish in the 2016 $10,000 H.O.R.S.E. Championship ($261,354) and a fourth-place finish in the 2023 $50,000 Poker Players Championship ($411,824). As of 2026, his total lifetime tournament earnings exceed $5.52 million, with over $3.1 million from WSOP events alone. He has recorded 112 total live cashes, with his most recent cash being $52,969 on June 15, 2026. He consistently performs at high levels, particularly in mixed-game formats.

In 2017, Obst made a surprising decision to step away from poker to pursue a career in professional tennis. This transition demonstrated his athletic versatility and commitment to exploring other interests. After several years away, he returned to WSOP competition in 2023 and quickly reestablished himself, posting a deep run in the Poker Players Championship. He then secured his second WSOP bracelet in 2024, proving that his skills remained sharp despite the hiatus.

James Obst is widely regarded as one of Australia's top poker talents, particularly in mixed games. His ability to succeed across both online and live arenas, along with his successful return after a multi-year break, has earned him respect from peers and fans. He is represented by Poker Icons for sponsorship and media inquiries. His story of leaving poker for tennis and then coming back to win another bracelet is a unique narrative in the poker world.

Outside of poker, Obst continues to enjoy chess, tennis, and golf. He maintains a relatively low public profile, focusing on his competitive pursuits. He remains a private individual, but his achievements in poker are well-documented.