Paul Balzano

Paul Balzano hails from Sunrise, Florida, and has been a fixture on the live tournament circuit since his first recorded cash in the 2008 World Series of Poker. Over the years, he has built a reputation as a steady and disciplined player, accumulating more than 259 total cashes across live and online events. Balzano's early career saw him gradually climbing the ranks, with small but frequent cashes in WSOP and WSOP Circuit events, laying the foundation for his later successes.

Balzano's largest career cash came in July 2014 when he won the $1,600 No-Limit Hold'em event at the Summer Classic for $180,583. Another standout performance occurred in February 2020, when he finished third in the $1,700 No-Limit Hold'em WSOP Circuit Florida Main Event, earning $135,794. In the 2016 Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open, he placed seventh in the $5,250 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event for $125,000. Later that year, he took fourth in the $570 Deep Stack event at the same series for $83,330. In October 2017, Balzano won the $1,500 Isle Open Main Event for $112,075.

Balzano has also made deep runs in World Poker Tour events, including a 132nd-place finish in the 2022 WPT Rock 'N' Roll Championship ($6,750) and cashes in WPT Prime Championships in 2022 and 2023.

Balzano has cashed 43 times in World Series of Poker events, earning over $427,000 across WSOP and WSOP Circuit tournaments. Despite not yet winning a bracelet, he has made seven WSOP final tables. His best WSOP result came in March 2025, when he finished runner-up in a $400 Seniors event at the WSOP Circuit Horseshoe Las Vegas for $15,798. He also placed 17th in a $400 Double Stack Closer on the WSOP Circuit in October 2025 ($892). Balzano has consistently cashed in the WSOP Main Event, including a 1,015th-place finish in 2023 ($17,500) and multiple deep runs in the Seniors Championship.

Balzano remains active, with multiple cashes in 2024, 2025, and early 2026. Highlights include a third-place finish in the $600 No-Limit Hold'em event at the 2025 Fun In The Sun Poker Series ($9,300) and a 129th-place finish in the 2026 WPT Lucky Hearts Poker Open ($2,240). In the 2026 WSOP Circuit Harrah's Pompano Beach, he placed 17th in the Main Event for $9,334. His consistency is evident from 22 cashes in 2025 alone, spanning buy-ins from $400 to $3,000.

With total live tournament earnings exceeding $2.28 million, Paul Balzano ranks among the top 1,300 on the all-time money list and is the 55th-highest earner from Florida. He has crossed the $2 million milestone, a testament to his longevity and skill. Balzano's style is characterized by solid fundamentals, patience, and careful bankroll management, allowing him to navigate large fields and produce consistent results. As he continues to compete, he remains a respected figure on the American tournament scene.

Balzano has also built a notable online presence, particularly on WSOP.com, where his profile lists 73 cashes and total earnings of $770,052. He has made 12 final tables on the platform, demonstrating his adaptability across formats. Although online results are often separate from live records, his WSOP.com success contributes to his overall $2.26 million in recorded earnings. His largest online cash remains lower than his live wins, but the volume and consistency highlight his well-rounded game.

Beyond his main WPT results, Balzano has several deep runs in World Poker Tour and PokerGO Tour events. In the 2023 WPT Prime Championship at Wynn Las Vegas, he finished 803rd out of 10,512 entries for $2,100. Earlier, in 2022, he placed 403rd in the same event ($2,250) and 132nd in the WPT Rock 'N' Roll Championship ($6,750). On the PGT, his second-place finish in a $500 No-Limit Hold'em event at Wynn in February 2023 earned $18,893. He also cashed in multiple Seminole Hard Rock events, including a 17th in a $2,700 Deep Stack ($12,415) and an 8th in the Seniors Championship ($3,560).

As of early 2026, Balzano's live earnings of $2,286,629 place him 1,240th on the all-time money list, 624th among United States players, and 55th in Florida. He has achieved 10 tournament victories and 259 total cashes, including 43 WSOP cashes. His consistent performance across buy-ins and event types underscores his reputation as a grinding professional. Balzano continues to add to his resume, with multiple cashes in 2026 already, keeping him among the active veteran players on the circuit.