Michael Jozoff
United States
Michael Jozoff, American professional poker player, known for his online poker achievements, once ranked first in the US and 23rd in the world. Total career earnings including online and live exceed $6 million, with live tournament earnings around $2.67 million. He also has a background in esports and tennis coaching, and now offers poker training services.
Early Life and Background
Michael Jozoff (often called Mike Jozoff) was born in the 1990s and hails from New York. He started playing poker as a college freshman at age 18 and quickly became hooked. He collaborated with top high-stakes players and even rented a dedicated space in Canada to focus on online poker study. Early in his career, he started with $5 online tournaments and gradually moved up to $10,000 buy-in events. By age 23, he was the #1 ranked online player in the United States.
Beyond poker, Jozoff also has a background in esports: from 2017–2019, he reached the UMG Top 50 in Call of Duty: Black Ops 3, competed in Fortnite Winter Royale and World Cup events, and achieved Grandmaster rank in Teamfight Tactics (top 0.01%). Additionally, he worked as a tennis coach intern for three years at the New York Junior Tennis League (NYJTL), teaching tennis and assisting with educational programs.
Education
Jozoff graduated from the University of Southern California (USC) with a Bachelor's degree in Communications, and minored in Real Estate Finance and Sports Business. He attended The Browning School for high school, where he served as captain of the tennis team (at age 12 in 7th grade, he became the youngest student in school history to make the varsity team) and was president of the Chess Club.
Online Achievements
Jozoff's online results are extremely impressive. He claims total online earnings of over $6 million, with numerous strong finishes on platforms like WSOP.com. Below are some of his WSOP online event results:
- 2025 WSOP Online Event #25: NL Hold'em Championship, 31st place, $3,829
- 2025 WSOP Online Event #13: $1M GTD [Mystery Bounty], 390th place, $756
- 2025 WSOP Online Event #12: Monsterstack, 86th place, $1,823
- 2025 WSOP Online Event #11: [High Roller], 16th place, $17,182
Additionally, he has cashed multiple times in WSOP Online Super Circuit series, such as the $250 Mini Main Event in March 2026 (1,120th place, $697) and the $525 Mystery Million (480th place, $2,861).
Live Tournament Results
Although Jozoff focuses mainly on online play, he also has notable live results. His total live earnings stand at $2,671,716, with key achievements including:
- Multiple WSOP final table appearances, e.g., the $25,000 high-roller event final table.
- In WSOP online series, he finished 46th in the $10,300 GGMillion$ High Roller in September 2025 ($53,462) and 49th in the $5,000 Main Event ($45,515).
- 41st in the $2,100 6-Max Bounty in September 2025 ($18,071), and 213th in the $1,500 Millionaire Maker ($1,000).
Playing Style
According to Jozoff's own statements and public information, he is a technically well-rounded player with a style that leans toward solid but aggressive. He emphasizes post-flop technique and hand selection, and is adept at using position to value-bet and bluff. His tournament pace is steady, but he is willing to make bold moves at critical moments. Jozoff believes that consistent long-term profitability is more important than short-term high returns—a philosophy that runs throughout his career.
Personal Anecdotes & Labels
- Esports & Sports: He achieved some results in Call of Duty and Fortnite, and worked as a tennis coach, showcasing his cross-disciplinary talents.
- [Poker Coach]: Jozoff runs the personal website Jozoff Poker, offering one-on-one coaching. He claims to be "America's #1 ranked online poker player" and shares his learning methods and mental game experience.
- Quiet Profitability: Although not as famous as top poker stars, he has earned respect within the industry through consistent profits and online rankings.
Summary
Michael Jozoff is a professional player who focuses primarily on online poker while also possessing live tournament skills. Through dedication and systematic training, he has risen from low-stakes events to become one of America's top players. His story demonstrates the importance of solid fundamentals, mental management, and continuous learning—particularly valuable for players looking to improve their online tournament game.
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