Perry Johnston

Perry Johnston, known affectionately as "Paw-Paw" to his granddaughter Brynn, hails from Oak Island, North Carolina. He began his tournament career in the early 2010s, often playing in regional events such as the Borgata Summer Poker Open and Winter Poker Open. A blog post from the 2013 Borgata Poker Open mentions Brynn remotely sweating her grandfather and hoping for a deep run so she could visit Disney World.

Johnston’s biggest cash to date came in the 2022 WSOP Event #37: $1,500 MILLIONAIRE MAKER, where he placed 558th out of 7,961 entrants for $3,795. His deepest WSOP run was in the 2016 WSOP COLOSSUS II, finishing 45th out of 2,447 for $2,136. He also cashed in the 2019 WSOP BIG 50 ($1,953) and multiple WSOP Circuit events at Harrah’s Cherokee, including a 59th-place finish in the 2015 Circuit Main Event for $3,478.

The most detailed result comes from the 2014 Seminole Hard Rock Showdown Event 11: a $200 Double Green Chip Bounty NLH, where Johnston finished 3rd for $1,139. He has also made final tables in smaller regional events, such as a 30th-place finish in the 2024 RunGood Main Event at bestbet Jacksonville ($3,208).

Observations from tournament coverage suggest Johnston plays a tight-aggressive style. In the 2012 Winter Poker Open, he got all-in with AJ offsuit against KQ and held, doubling up. Later in the same event, he ran AQ into AK and lost a big pot. He is described as a solid, disciplined player who capitalizes on opponents’ mistakes and manages his stack carefully, consistent with a TAG approach.

Johnston is a relatively low-profile player who balances poker with family life. His granddaughter Brynn is a recurring figure in live reports, cheering him on from home. With 13 WSOP-related cashes, he exemplifies the grind of a mid-stakes tournament pro, steadily building results over a decade.