Luis Velador

Luis Velador, also listed in some tournament results as Jose-Luis Velador, was born in the Puerto Vallarta area of Mexico. He later moved to the United States, living in Lake Elsinore, California, before settling in Corona, California. Before becoming a poker professional, Velador worked as a tile setter. He is one of the few Mexican-born winners in WSOP history, following in the footsteps of Victor Perches, who became the first Mexican-born player to win a gold bracelet in 2006.

Velador transitioned from a tile setter to a full-time poker pro, focusing primarily on middle-limit cash games ranging from $10-$20 up to $40-$80 limits. He prefers mixed games and has played daily at the Bicycle Club Casino in the past, but now plays mostly at the Commerce Casino in Los Angeles. His professional career spans live cash games, tournaments, and online poker.

Velador has won two WSOP gold bracelets, both in the late 2000s and early 2010s. His first victory came in 2008 at the WSOP in a $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em event, where he defeated Chris Signore heads-up to claim the title and a prize of $574,734. This remains his largest career cash to date.

His second bracelet came in 2010 at the WSOP in Event #33, a $2,500 Pot-Limit Hold'em/Pot-Limit Omaha mixed event. At the time, Velador was a 46-year-old poker pro from Corona, CA. He collected $260,552 for first place, defeating David Chiu heads-up. This victory highlighted his versatility in mixed games, a format he particularly enjoys.

Beyond his bracelet wins, Velador has consistently performed well at the WSOP. As of 2018, he had recorded 3 final tables and 24 in-the-money finishes at the series. In 2023, he finished in the top three of the $10,000 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship, earning $211,715. In 2024, he placed 8th in the $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship, taking home $54,499. These deep runs in high-stakes mixed-game events underscore his skill in that arena.

Velador's best performance in the WSOP Main Event came in 2014, when he finished in 10th place. This result is among the best ever achieved by a Mexican-born player in the Main Event and demonstrated his patience and strategic execution on poker's biggest stage.

On the World Poker Tour (WPT), Velador has recorded 5 cashes with total earnings of $168,618. His best WPT result was an 11th-place finish in the 2010-2011 WPT Five Diamond World Poker Classic, which paid $42,231. He also finished 19th in the 2008-2009 WPT Bay 101 Shooting Stars event ($25,000) and 46th in the 2013-2014 WPT Los Angeles Poker Classic ($22,560).

According to live tournament databases, Velador's total live earnings have grown over time. As of March 2025, his recorded earnings stood at $2,578,665 from 85 cashes, with a latest cash of $8,200 on 25-Mar-2025. By May 2025, his total had increased to $2,589,297 from 86 cashes, with a latest cash of $10,632 on 29-May-2025. These figures place him among the top Mexican-born players on the all-time money list, typically ranked third. His career-high single payout remains the $574,734 from his 2008 WSOP bracelet win.

Velador is known for a solid, patient style that minimizes unnecessary risks. He excels in mixed games, where his comprehensive understanding of various disciplines gives him an edge. His deep Main Event run and consistent cashes in high-stakes Omaha events reflect strong decision-making and emotional control under pressure. While he keeps a low public profile, his results speak to a disciplined, technically sound approach.

As a Mexican-born poker pioneer, Velador has inspired many Latin American players. His two WSOP gold bracelets and Main Event final table appearance have cemented his place in poker history. He remains a respected figure in the poker community, known for his quiet professionalism and dedication to the game.