James Romero

James Romero grew up in Portland, Oregon, and went on to earn a degree from the University of Oregon Business School. His academic background laid a foundation for the analytical thinking required in professional poker. Romero resides in Portland and is active in the local poker scene, regularly traveling for major tournaments.

Romero's career-defining moment came in December 2016 when he won the World Poker Tour Five Diamond World Poker Classic at the Bellagio in Las Vegas. The victory earned him $1,938,118 and placed his name on the prestigious Mike Sexton WPT Champions Cup. This remains his largest live cash and cemented his reputation as a top-tier tournament player.

Beyond the WPT title, Romero has collected numerous six-figure scores across a variety of events. In 2020, he finished third in the partypoker MILLIONS UK Main Event for $420,000. Earlier, in 2018, he took third in the MSPT Venetian $3,500 Main Event for $291,448. At the 2019 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open, he placed second in a $10,000 No-Limit Hold'em event for $250,257. He also won the partypoker MILLIONS Punta del Este $25,000 High Roller for $325,000 and the 2022 WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open $2,200 No-Limit Hold'em event for $167,285. Other notable cashes include sixth place in the 2022 Wynn Summer Classic $3,500 Championship for $129,041 and seventh place in the 2021 Poker Masters $10,000 event for $43,000.

Romero has also performed well in the World Series of Poker. He cashed in the 2023 WSOP Main Event (1201st for $17,500) and has multiple final-table near-misses. In 2023, he finished 26th in the $1,500 6-Handed event for $17,973. At the 2025 WSOP, he placed 51st in the $3,000 Mid-Stakes Championship for $26,819. His WSOP online results include a cash in the 2020 GGPoker WSOP Online $1,500 Millionaire Maker (289th) and a deep run in the 2021 WSOP $1,500 Millionaire Maker (68th for $11,510).

Romero consistently competes in high-stakes events worldwide. He participated in the partypoker MILLIONS North Cyprus Main Event in 2021 and the PokerGO Tour's Poker Masters. His online play extends to WSOP Online Circuit events, where he has accumulated over $463,000 in WSOP-specific earnings according to WSOP.com. He scored an eighth-place finish in an August 2024 WSOP Online Circuit $100,000 Mystery Bounty event for $1,424. Romero's total live tournament earnings rank him 303rd on the Hendon Mob All Time Money List and 152nd among United States players.

In addition to playing, Romero serves as a renowned instructor at PokerCoaching.com, founded by Fedor Holz. He shares his expertise through strategy content and training materials, helping aspiring players improve their game. His analytical approach and ability to break down complex hands have made him a sought-after coach. He also maintains an active presence on Twitter under the handle @skielanskis.

On Oregon's all-time poker money list, Romero sits in third place behind Seth Davies and Chris Brewer, according to data from January 2023. He has crossed the $6 million milestone in live earnings and continues to add results year after year. His combination of a WPT title, consistent big scores, and contributions as a coach solidify his legacy as one of the most accomplished tournament grinders from the Pacific Northwest.

Romero continued to add to his resume with strong showings in 2025 and 2026. At the 2025 WSOP, he finished 201st in Event #37: $1,500 Monster Stack for $8,743. He also placed 49th in the WSOP Circuit Horseshoe Las Vegas Main Event for $4,539. In 2026, he cashed in multiple WSOP events: 183rd in Event #32: $3,000 No-Limit Hold'em ($6,027), 298th in Event #31: $1,500 Super Turbo Bounty ($1,882), and 28th in the WSOP Circuit Caesars Republic Lake Tahoe Main Event ($4,560). These results demonstrate his enduring competitiveness in major live tournaments.

As of mid-2026, James Romero's live tournament earnings have reached $6,401,162 ranking him 303rd on the all-time money list. His PokerNews profile cites even higher earnings of $6,629,769. This consistent accumulation of prize money, combined with his 2016 WPT title and role as a poker coach, solidifies his status as a top professional from the United States.