Rex Clinkscales

Rex Clinkscales was born on February 11, 1983, in San Antonio, Texas, and grew up in the Lone Star State. He now splits his time between Las Vegas, Nevada, and the Philippines as a professional poker player. Clinkscales began playing tournaments in 2010 when the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Circuit stopped at Caesars Las Vegas. There, he cashed three times for a total of $3,980—a experience that hooked him on tournament poker. Reflecting on his career choice, Clinkscales told PokerNews: "I have never been the type of guy to work a nine-to-five job. Clocking in and being micro-managed day in and day out just wasn't appealing. I love to travel and experience new places and meet people from different walks of life. Poker gives me the ability to do all of that. It isn't the easiest of 'jobs,' but to me it's the most rewarding."

Over the next several years, Clinkscales became a regular on the WSOP Circuit, amassing an impressive 75 cashes for $411,806 and one ring. His first major victory came in 2013 when he took down the WSOP Circuit Harrah’s Philadelphia $1,675 Main Event, earning $121,095. He also recorded multiple runner-up finishes on the circuit: in the 2011/2012 Harrah’s Rincon Event #1 $355 No-Limit Hold’em ($13,504), the 2012/2013 IP Biloxi Event #10 $365 No-Limit Hold’em ($8,460), and the 2018 WSOP Circuit Harvey’s Lake Tahoe Event #12 $400 NLH One-Day ($8,590). Additionally, he placed third in the 2012/2013 Horseshoe Bossier City Event #10 $365 No-Limit Hold’em for $8,097.

Clinkscales reached new heights in 2017 when he won the WPTDeepStacks Tampa $1,100 Main Event for a career-best $162,354. That same year, his consistent performances earned him the title of WPTDeepStacks Player of the Year. This achievement solidified his reputation as a formidable tournament grinder. Earlier, in 2015, he had already posted a six-figure score by finishing second in the $1,650 Heartland Poker Tour (HPT) Black Hawk event for $144,069. Another notable victory came at the DeepStacks Poker Tour Battle of Alberta Main Event in September 2017, where he took first place for $65,147.

Beyond his circuit and tour wins, Clinkscales has cashed in dozens of events across the poker landscape. In March 2015, he placed fifth in the WPT Rolling Thunder Event #2 $3,500 No-Limit Hold’em for $62,864. He has also made deep runs in numerous WSOP events, including a 114th-place finish in the 2024 WSOP Event #38: $1,500 Monster Stack ($9,210), a 137th-place in the 2022 WSOP Event #68: $1,000 Million Dollar Bounty ($6,100), and a 121st-place in the 2022 WSOP Event #85: $1,500 The Closer ($4,330). More recently, he cashed in the 2025 WSOP Event #31: $800 Deepstack (574th, $1,647) and the 2025 PokerStars NAPT Las Vegas $1,100 Main Event (34th, $3,510). His lifetime live tournament earnings exceed $2.1 million placing him among the top 1,500 players on the All Time Money List.

Top Five Career Cashes

Clinkscales is known for a solid, balanced approach to tournament poker. He emphasizes patience and disciplined decision-making, often grinding deep into events without taking unnecessary risks. His style can be described as tight-aggressive, but he adapts to opponents and situations, demonstrating strong hand-reading skills and the ability to make well-timed bluffs. Clinkscales values bankroll management and emotional stability, recognizing that consistency is key to long-term success in poker. His low-key demeanor at the tables and willingness to travel extensively have made him a respected figure among peers.

As of mid-2025, Clinkscales remains active in both live and online tournaments. He continues to frequent the WSOP, the WPTDeepStacks circuit, and other major series. In 2024, he cashed in several WSOP events including the $600 Ultra Stack (779th, $1,201) and the $800 Independence Day Celebration (438th, $2,046). He also placed 7th in a $400 event at the 2026 Wynn Millions for $6,215. With a GPI rank of 1,686 (as of July 2022) and a reputation as a reliable cash grinder, Clinkscales shows no signs of slowing down. His story exemplifies how a dedicated player can build a successful poker career without relying on a single massive score, through hard work, travel, and continuous improvement.