Sam Mastrogiannis

Sam Mastrogiannis (full name Stamatis A. Mastrogiannis) was born on March 2, 1942, of Greek descent, and is an American professional poker player. He initially built his bankroll primarily through cash games while also making a name for himself in tournaments.

Mastrogiannis won three gold bracelets at the World Series of Poker (WSOP):

• 1979: Won his first title in the $1,000 Razz event, earning $22,200.
• 1986: Captured two bracelets in the same year—first in the $5,000 Limit Seven Card Stud event for $80,000, then in the $1,000 Seven Card Stud event for $78,400.

He also cashed in several other WSOP events, including a 13th-place finish in the 1997 $2,500 Limit Seven Card Stud ($6,337).

Outside the WSOP, Mastrogiannis won the Seven Card Stud event at the 1982 Amarillo Slim Super Bowl of Poker, earning $39,000. his total live tournament winnings exceed $223,000.

Mastrogiannis invested a portion of his poker winnings into the shoe industry, founding a footwear brand called "Mastroni." The shoes were sold at Nordstrom department stores under a signature label, demonstrating his ability to convert poker profits into a tangible business.

As a cash game specialist, Mastrogiannis was known for a steady, patient style. He performed well in tournaments as well, particularly in mixed games like limit Seven Card Stud and Razz, which aligns with the events in which he won his WSOP bracelets.

• Hendon Mob profile
• WSOP official data