Michael Duek

Michael Duek was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and later moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Before his breakout, he focused primarily on cash games and had only four recorded cashes from late 2017 to early 2021, the largest being $34,929. He entered the 2022 World Series of Poker (WSOP) and played several side events, including a 31st-place finish in the $25,000 Pot-Limit Omaha High Roller for $44,253, before jumping into the $10,000 Main Event.

Duek’s run to the Main Event final table was a rollercoaster. On Day 1d he bagged 61,500 chips, ranking 1,934th of 3,295 survivors. Day 2d vaulted him to 509,000 chips (24th of 1,757). Day 3 added another 200,000, but Day 5 saw him drop to 1,625,000, languishing in 103rd place with 123 players remaining. On Day 6, he exploded from 1,625,000 to 22,575,000, largely thanks to a hand against Cedricc Trevino: Duek called a four-bet with J♥J♣, flopped a set on a 6♥2♥6♣ flop, and Trevino’s K♠K♥ were busted when the turn brought a jack. On Day 7, he clashed with Espen Jørstad; Jørstad opened with A♠Q♣ and Duek called with A♣J♠ on a K♦K♣9♠ flop, then check-called a river bet when an ace fell, only to see Jørstad’s superior kicker. Despite that, Duek bagged 49,775,000 chips (41 big blinds) for the final table. He ultimately finished fourth, earning approximately $3,000,000.

Duek’s breakout summer also included a third-place finish in the $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Championship for $548,015, immediately establishing him as a PLO threat. Since then, he has consistently scored in high-stakes events across multiple series.

World Series of Poker: In 2025, Duek placed second in Event #51: $25,000 High Roller Pot-Limit Omaha for $1,528,077. He also cashed in the 2025 WSOP Paradise $10,000 8-Game Mix and $2,500 Mystery Bounty, as well as the 2024 WSOP Paradise Super Main Event ($50,000) and a PLO event. His WSOP.com profile lists 31 cashes, 6 final tables, and total WSOP earnings of $6,841,370.

PokerGO Tour: Duek has 18 cashes on the PGT totaling $1.21 million, including one win. His best PGT finish is third in the 2025 $25,300 10-Game Championship for $196,000. Other notable PGT results: fifth in the 2025 $10,100 PLO ($76,700), fourth in the 2024 $25,200 PLO Championship ($155,000), third in the 2024 $15,100 PLO ($161,850), and second in the 2023 Wynn Millions $10,500 PLO ($161,700). He also won a $10,000 PLO event at Bellagio in October 2022 for $105,800.

Triton Poker Series: Duek has three Triton cashes worth $1.01 million, all from 2024. He finished second in the $50,000 Pot-Limit Omaha at Triton Monte-Carlo for $736,000, fifth in the $25,000 PLO Turbo Bounty for $100,000, and tenth in the $100,000 PLO Main Event at Triton Montenegro for $176,000.

Duek’s tournament resume is heavily weighted toward Pot-Limit Omaha. Of his 18 PGT cashes, 17 are in Omaha games, and his three Triton finishes are all in PLO. His aggressive, pressure-oriented style is particularly effective in PLO, where multi-street dynamics reward hand-reading and leverage. He frequently applies heavy pressure preflop and postflop, using his stack to force opponents into tough decisions. Colleagues describe him as exceptionally calm and focused at the table, qualities that serve him well in the high-volatility PLO format.

Duek is known for his exceptional intuition and technical prowess. He excels at reading opponents and exploiting weaknesses, often making large bluffs and precise value bets. His PLO background gives him an edge in complex board textures, and he is unafraid to swing between large pots. During the 2022 Main Event, he demonstrated strong emotional control, weathering bad beats and double-ups alike. He is also noted for his studious approach, constantly analyzing spots and adapting to opponents’ tendencies.

Duek has maintained a blistering pace. In 2025 alone, he has cashed four times on the PGT for $305,000, including the second-place finish in the WSOP $25,000 PLO High Roller. He also placed fifth in the PGT PLO Series I event for $76,700 and sixteenth in the $10,000 PLO Series II event. In 2024, he tallied five PGT cashes for $400,000, highlighted by a third place in the $25,000 10-Game Championship ($196,000) and fourth in the $25,200 PLO Championship ($155,000). His Triton results also came in late 2024. This consistent deep-running across the most competitive fields solidifies his status as one of the top tournament professionals today.

Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and now based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Duek’s rise to professional poker is a testament to natural talent combined with rigorous dedication. He began his poker journey in cash games before transitioning to tournaments. Despite his youth—born in 1999—he has already earned lifelong respect from peers for his maturity and skill. He remains a private individual, focusing on continuous improvement and high-stakes competition.