Matthew Wantman

Matthew Wantman was born and raised in Stoneham, Massachusetts, and currently resides in Boston. He began his poker career online, quickly making a name for himself on PokerStars under the handles "MattW" and "mattw." Wantman achieved significant success in the World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP) and the Spring Championship of Online Poker (SCOOP), winning a WCOOP main event and making multiple final tables in these prestigious series. His online background provided a strong foundation for his transition to live tournaments, where he has since amassed over $11.6 million in career earnings (as of 2025, per PokerNews) and recorded total earnings exceeding $12.3 million including online results (per the GPI/THM database).

Wantman captured his first major live title in May 2019 at the WPT Aria Summer Championship. He won the $10,000 buy-in no-limit hold'em event for $443,475, defeating a tough field to earn his first WPT victory. This win put him on the map as a serious contender in the live poker world. He would later come close to a second WPT title in September 2022, finishing third in the WPT Legends of Poker behind eventual champion Joshua Pollock and runner-up Ray Qartomy, earning $280,000. Overall, Wantman has four WPT final tables and one championship, with total WPT earnings exceeding $1.1 million.

Wantman has been a consistent performer at the World Series of Poker (WSOP). He has 146 WSOP cashes, 10 final tables, and one bracelet. In 2023, he finished 29th in the $10,000 WSOP Main Event for $280,100, his deepest run in poker's richest tournament. His closest brush with a second bracelet came in 2025 when he finished runner-up in Event #49: $3,000 6-Handed No-Limit Hold'em, collecting $382,774 after battling through a large field. He also placed 8th in Event #88: $50,000 High Roller, adding $274,023. In 2024-2025, Wantman cashed in multiple high-stakes WSOP events, including the $25,000 High Roller Pot-Limit Omaha (70th, $50,205) and the $25,000 High Roller PLO/NLH Mixed (31st, $50,829). His WSOP earnings total over $2.78 million, making him one of the most successful players in the series without multiple bracelets.

Beyond the WPT and WSOP, Wantman has excelled in high-roller circuits worldwide. In August 2025, he finished third in the Onyx Super High Roller Series $25,750 Main Event for $530,000, his largest live cash to date. He also showcased consistent form at the 2025 U.S. Poker Open, winning Event #4 for $231,300 and placing 8th in another event. At the PokerGO Tour, he has recorded numerous top-10 finishes, including a 5th place in Poker Masters #3 ($65,600) and a 6th place in PGT Last Chance #1 ($54,500). Internationally, Wantman cashed for $157,000 in the Triton Jeju $100,000 Main Event, and in August 2025, he finished 4th in the EPT Barcelona €2,700 PS Open High Roller for €219,000. At the 2024 WSOP Paradise, he placed 46th in the $25,000 Super Main Event for $140,900.

Wantman is known for an aggressive yet balanced style, developed through years of online play. He frequently applies pressure with three-bets and continuation bets, leveraging deep stacks and positional edges. However, he also demonstrates discipline, folding when necessary and avoiding marginal spots. His game adapts to opponents' tendencies, mixing aggression with caution to maintain unpredictability. Wantman has cited extensive study of strategy books and training videos as key to his development, and he approaches each tournament with a focus on maximizing expected value rather than chasing results.

Wantman remains active on the live poker circuit in 2025-2026. In June 2026, he cashed in several WSOP events, including the $1,500 Big O (191st, $3,160), $25,000 High Roller (45th, $50,587), and $1,500 6-Handed (123rd, $3,543). He also finished 6th in WSOP Europe Event #7: €2,200 Turbo Bounty NLHE for €24,430. On the PokerGO Tour in early 2026, he placed 6th in PGT Last Chance #1 ($54,500) and 7th in PGT Last Chance #4 ($50,400). His career live earnings have passed the $8 million milestone (per Hendon Mob), and with over 430 career cashes, Wantman stands as a top-tier American poker professional, respected for his consistency and adaptability across formats.