Philipp Gruissem

Philipp Gruissem was born on January 30, 1987, in Krefeld, Germany. He began playing live tournaments in 2009, quickly establishing himself in the online poker world under the screen name "philbort." Gruissem currently resides in London, England.

Gruissem built his reputation in online high-stakes games on PokerStars, where he regularly played cash games and tournaments. In 2017, he won WCOOP-45-H: $215+R NLHE [6-Max], $250K Gtd for $75,414, defeating a final table that included WSOP Main Event champion Martin Jacobson. His online prowess laid the foundation for his later live achievements.

Gruissem's breakthrough live result came at the 2011 World Series of Poker Main Event, where he finished 28th for over $240,000. Since then, he has amassed more than $11.5 million in live earnings, placing him 126th on the all-time money list and tenth among German players.

His most notable wins include:

• WPT Alpha8 London (2013) – 1st place for $1,379,840
• EPT Monte Carlo High Roller (2014) – 1st place for $1,378,059
• WPT Alpha8 St. Kitts (2013) – 1st place for $1,086,400
• WSOP APAC Melbourne High Roller (2013) – 1st place for $863,386
• EPT London High Roller (2011) – 1st place for $703,657
• EPT Grand Final €25,500 High Roller (2014) – 1st place for €993,963
• PokerStars Championship Monte-Carlo €25,500 Single-Day High Roller (2017) – 1st place for €485,135

Beyond these wins, Gruissem has consistently made deep runs in major events. He has cashed multiple times in WSOP events, including a 17th-place finish in the €25,000 High Roller at WSOP Europe 2017 for €38,060. He also finished 47th in the 2017 WSOP Europe Main Event for €20,175. In 2018, he placed 28th in the EPT Main Event for €17,500 and 22nd in the partypoker MILLIONS Grand Final Barcelona Main Event for €50,000.

More recent results include a 97th-place finish in the 2020 WPT World Online Championships $10,300 Main Event for $27,297 and a 437th-place finish in the 2023 WSOP Paradise $5,000 Main Event for $8,500.

Gruissem has specialized in high roller events, often competing in buy-ins of $10,000 and above. His aggressive yet calculated style has earned him victories against elite fields. He won three WPT Alpha8 events in a span of two years, each exceeding $1 million. His EPT High Roller wins in Monte Carlo and London further cement his reputation as one of the most successful high roller players of the 2010s.

Together with fellow poker players Igor Kurganov and Liv Boeree, Gruissem co-founded Raising for Effective Giving (REG), a charity that encourages effective altruism within the poker community. REG promotes donations to highly effective charities and has raised significant funds for global health and poverty relief. Gruissem continues to reside in London and remains active in the poker scene, though his live tournament appearances have become less frequent in recent years.

Gruissem employs a mathematically rigorous, data-driven approach at the tables. He excels in deep-stacked situations, using position and range advantage to pressure opponents. His decision-making combines meticulous hand analysis with keen observation of opponent tendencies. This balanced style has allowed him to consistently succeed against the world's best players.

Gruissem's profile on The Hendon Mob displays awards for Tournament Performance of the Year and Charitable Initiative of the Year, recognizing his high roller victories and philanthropic efforts. As of 2025, he ranks 132nd on the All Time Money List and remains among the top German players. He also holds six WSOP money finishes and has earned over $11.5 million in live tournaments.

Beyond the results already listed, Gruissem has several other notable cashes. In 2016, he finished 67th in the EPT Prague €5,300 Main Event for €17,200. At the 2018 partypoker MILLIONS Russia, he placed 101st in the Main Event for 750,000 RUB and sixth in a ₽3,000,000 Triton Poker High Roller for 7,500,000 RUB. He also cashed in the 2018 partypoker MILLIONS Germany Main Event for €22,500. Earlier in 2017, he took 17th in the PokerStars Championship Monte-Carlo €25,750 High Roller for €61,850.