Samuel Panzica II

Samuel Panzica II, born and raised in Saline, Michigan, burst onto the poker scene as a teenager. At just 21 years old, he won two WSOP Circuit gold rings at Horseshoe Cincinnati in 2013, earning Casino Champion honors and qualifying for the WSOP National Championship.

Panzica's early dominance came on the WSOP Circuit. In 2013, he took down Event 3 ($365 Limit Omaha Eight) and Event 8 ($365 Pot-Limit Omaha with Re-Buys) at Horseshoe Cincinnati, accumulating 110 points to secure the Casino Champion title. He later added a third gold ring, bringing his total WSOP-related earnings to over $160,000 at the time.

Panzica's biggest triumphs came on the World Poker Tour. He won his first WPT title in 2017 at the WPT Bay 101 Shooting Star, taking home $1,373,000. Later that same season, he captured another title at the WPT bestbet Bounty Scramble in Jacksonville, earning $354,335. He also has deep runs in other WPT events, including a runner-up finish at the 2018 WPT bestbet Bounty Scramble ($210,783) and a fifth-place finish at the WPT Bobby Baldwin Classic ($97,795). His total WPT earnings exceed $2.5 million from 26 cashes.

In February 2016, Panzica won the EPT Dublin €10,300 High Roller for €375,770 (approximately $418,000 at the time), demonstrating his skill in high-stakes tournaments beyond the WPT. This victory added to his growing resume and showcased his ability to compete internationally.

Panzica has consistently performed in high-stakes events. He finished 4th in the WPT LAPC Rockstar Energy High Roller for $131,000 and 8th in the WPT Tournament of Champions for $45,175. His tournament resume also includes a 25th-place finish in the WPT Five Diamond World Poker Classic ($38,890) and multiple cashes at Seminole Hard Rock events. his live tournament cashes exceed $4.9 million across 157 recorded cashes, placing him among the top earners from Florida. His latest cash was $5,700 in April 2026.

Panzica is known for an aggressive, loose-aggressive style. He is comfortable playing non-hold'em games, as evidenced by his WSOP Circuit ring in Omaha. He often employs late registration and plays with confidence, once stating "It's easy when you get dealt the nuts all the time" after doubling his stack early in a Main Event. His ability to rebound from setbacks was demonstrated when, after busting from a tournament, he immediately registered for a $10k Heads-Up event and reached the final table.

Despite not yet winning a WSOP bracelet, Panzica has built a formidable resume with two major WPT titles, an EPT High Roller victory, and over $4.9 million in career earnings. He remains an active professional, continuing to compete on the WPT and WSOP circuits, and is recognized as one of the top players from the Florida poker scene.