Joe Kuether

Joseph 'Joe' Kuether (born February 5, 1988, in Elm Grove, Wisconsin) is an American professional poker player. He attended Brookfield East High School and graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Madison with a degree in accounting. He currently resides in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Kuether began playing poker with friends in high school, then moved to online poker under the alias 'daPHUNNIEman.' He built his bankroll through disciplined play during college. After Black Friday shut down online poker in 2011, he transitioned to live tournaments. His lifetime online earnings total $976,501.

Kuether is primarily a cash game player but has made a name for himself as a consistent tournament performer. He was ranked 22nd in the 2014 Poker Player of the Year rankings. As of 2025, his recorded live earnings exceed $7.78 million, placing him 2nd on the Wisconsin all-time money list and 110th in the United States. His largest live cash came in 2015 when he finished runner-up in the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure $25,000 High Roller for $1,050,000.

• 2015 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure $25,000 High Roller – 2nd place, $1,050,000
• 2014 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open $5,300 Championship – 5th place, $424,044
• 2013 Arizona State Poker Championship Main Event – 1st place, $424,044
• 2015 WPT Borgata Poker Open $3,500 Main Event – 3rd place, $262,994
• 2008 Bay 101 Shooting Star Classic Main Event – 6th place, $246,161
• 2021 Wynn Summer Classic $10,000 Main Event – 8th place, $240,302

Kuether has 115 WSOP cashes (including online) and seven final tables, but no bracelet. He has earned three WSOP Circuit rings. Notable results include a 2nd-place finish in the 2024 WSOP Online Event #22: NL Hold'em Championship for $101,791, and a 17th-place finish in the 2024 WSOP Online Event #25: PLO 6-Max Championship for $5,736. He also cashed in the 2024 WSOP Event #93: $777 Lucky 7s for $17,530.

On the World Poker Tour, Kuether has three final tables and 18 cashes in main events, with total WPT earnings of $703,282. His best WPT result is a 3rd-place finish in the 2015 WPT Borgata Poker Open for $262,994. He also finished 19th in the 2015-2016 WPTDeepStacks Hollywood event for $2,881 and 152nd in the 2021-2022 WPT World Online Championships Main Event for $10,661.

Kuether is known for a solid, disciplined approach emphasizing patience and fundamental soundness. He excels in deep-stack situations, focusing on precise range analysis and avoiding unnecessary risks, prioritizing long-term profitability over flashy plays.

Kuether continues to maintain a consistent tournament schedule. In 2024, he notched multiple WSOP cashes, including deep runs in the $1,500 Closer (394th), the $1,979 Poker Hall of Fame Bounty (126th), and the $1,000 No-Limit Hold'em (166th). He also cashed in the WSOP Circuit Harrah's Cherokee Main Event (195th) and the $2,200 High Roller (20th).

In addition to his online alias "daPHUNNIEman", Kuether is also known by the nickname "The Luckbox" and occasionally "DAP" among peers.

According to official WSOP records, Kuether has amassed 154 lifetime cashes at the World Series of Poker, including online events, with 22 final table appearances. His total WSOP earnings exceed $2.35 million. He has also won three WSOP Circuit rings.

Kuether was the subject of a "A Poker Life" feature on CardPlayer.com, which detailed his transition from recreational player to professional. He is active on social media under the handle @jkuether3 on Twitter.