Stephen Chidwick

Stephen James Chidwick was born on 10 May 1989 in Deal, Kent, England. He began playing poker at the age of 18, building his bankroll from scratch by grinding freeroll tournaments during the early days of online poker. He played under the aliases "stevie444" and "TylersDad64" on various platforms, accumulating nearly $3.9 million in online winnings on PokerStars alone, with his last recorded online cash there in September 2020 before focusing on live events.

His first major live cash came in 2008 at the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure, where he won a $1,000 No-Limit Hold'em event for $88,760. This victory marked the beginning of a remarkable career that would soon see him become a fixture at the highest-stakes live tournaments worldwide.

Chidwick's early live results showcased his potential. In 2009, he finished runner-up in the Full Tilt FTOPS Event #17 for $142,155.30. His first World Series of Poker (WSOP) cashes came in 2010, all in $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em events. Over the next several years, he consistently made deep runs in prestigious tournaments. At the 2011 WSOP, he finished fourth in the $10,000 Pot-Limit Hold'em Championship for $198,927. The following year, he placed sixth in the $50,000 Poker Players Championship ($253,497) and third in the $1,500 H.O.R.S.E. In 2013, he again came close to a bracelet, finishing fourth in the $25,000 No-Limit Hold'em 6-Handed event for $353,780. That same year, he earned his first major live score by taking third place in the €5,300 EPT Prague Main Event for €378,000 ($517,992).

In 2015, Chidwick added a runner-up finish in the $10,000 Seven-Card Stud Hi-Low Championship at the WSOP, earning $180,529. His breakthrough came in 2017 when he won the €25,500 No-Limit Hold'em 8-Handed event at the PokerStars Championship in Barcelona for $813,144 (€690,400). The following year, he recorded his first seven-figure cash, finishing fourth in the Super High Roller Bowl in Macau for $1,298,521. He also placed third in the partypoker MILLIONS Grand Final Barcelona €10,300 Main Event for $1,233,654 and won two events at the U.S. Poker Open—the $25,000 No-Limit Hold'em ($374,000) and the $25,000 Mixed Game Championship ($382,500). In 2018, Chidwick made an impressive 26 live final tables, the second most of any player that year behind Jake Schindler's 31. He also led the Global Poker Index (GPI) from 18 April to 9 October 2018, becoming the first player to top those rankings.

For years, Chidwick was famously labeled the best player without a WSOP bracelet. He shed that moniker in 2019 by winning the $25,000 Pot-Limit Omaha High Roller for $1,618,417, capturing his first gold bracelet. He added a second bracelet at the 2024 WSOP Paradise, taking down the $50,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Championship for $1,357,080. As of 2025, he has 2 bracelets, 23 final tables, and 80 money finishes at the WSOP, with total WSOP earnings of $11,471,778. His highest Main Event finish came in 2021, placing 89th. He also holds a runner-up finish in the 2025 $50,000 High Roller Pot-Limit Omaha for $1,430,938.

Chidwick is a regular on the high roller and super high roller circuits, consistently competing against the world's best. In 2019 alone, he won the €50,000 EPT Super High Roller for $802,972 and had his largest career cash to date with a fourth-place finish in the £1,050,000 buy-in Triton Million for Charity event in London, earning £4,410,000 ($5,368,947). He also won two events at the 2019 U.S. Poker Open: the $10,000 No-Limit Hold'em ($216,000) and the $25,000 Pot-Limit Omaha ($351,000).

In May 2022, Chidwick enjoyed a particularly successful run at the Triton Poker Series in Madrid, winning the €100,000 No-Limit Short Deck Hold'em Main Event for $1,916,463 and finishing runner-up in the €75,000 No-Limit Hold'em 8-Handed for $1,357,140. He also has PokerGO Tour titles, including the 2021 Poker Masters #7 $10,000 No-Limit Hold'em ($183,600), the 2022 Triton Madrid €100k Short Deck ($1,800,000), and an ARIA High Roller event in 2022 ($174,000). His versatility extends to mixed games and short deck, making him a threat in any format.

He has over 40 first-place finishes in major tournaments, with lifetime live earnings exceeding $79 million as of January 2026, placing him third on the all-time money list according to The Hendon Mob (behind Bryn Kenney and Justin Bonomo). He has 412 recorded cashes, consistently adding to his resume each year.

Chidwick remains at the top of his game in the mid-2020s. At the 2025 WSOP, he finished runner-up in the $50,000 High Roller Pot-Limit Omaha event for $1,430,938, and cashed in several other events, including a 21st-place in the $25,000 Mixed PLO/NLH High Roller ($53,371), 35th in the $10,000 PLO Championship ($38,345), and 350th in the $10,000 Main Event ($45,000).

At the 2025 WSOP Paradise, Chidwick continued to shine with multiple final tables: fourth in the $50,000 PLO High Roller ($481,000), fifth in the $75,000 Triton PLO 6-Handed ($526,500), 16th in the $100,000 Triton NLH Main Event ($291,000), 17th in the $125,000 Triton NLH 7-Handed ($194,000), and 321st in the $25,000 Super Main Event ($50,000). In 2026, he recorded cashes at the WSOP including in the $25,000 NLH High Roller and the $10,000 GGMillion$ High Roller. He also played in the 2026 U.S. Poker Open, finishing in the money in multiple events. His consistent performance across multiple years has cemented his status as one of the elite players in the game.

Chidwick is known for being intensely private, rarely sharing details about his life outside of poker. In July 2025, he broke his silence with a deeply personal post on X (formerly Twitter), where he spoke candidly about his struggles with mental health, self-doubt, and the immense pressure of competing at the highest level. The post resonated with many in the poker community, offering a rare glimpse into the challenges faced by elite players.

Despite his reserved nature, Chidwick is widely regarded as one of the two or three best tournament players in the world. He is praised for his analytical approach, hand-reading abilities, and intense focus at the table, often described as having "the scariest stare in poker." His influence extends to modern poker strategy, and he has been a mentor to aspiring players through training sites. He has also participated in charity events, such as the Triton Million for Charity, donating portions of his winnings to causes.

Chidwick's legacy is secure as a pioneer of the modern high-stakes game. With two WSOP bracelets, a GPI number one ranking, and earnings that place him among the all-time greats, Stephen Chidwick continues to be a dominant force in poker.

Chidwick's online poker career was instrumental in building his skills and bankroll. He played under the aliases "stevie444" on PokerStars and "TylersDad64" on other platforms. His total online winnings on PokerStars alone amount to nearly $3.9 million, with his last recorded cash on that site in September 2020. He also competed under the alias "StuUngar89" on occasion. Online, he was known for his aggressive yet calculated style, often playing high-stakes tournaments and cash games. His online success prepared him for the live arena, where he quickly transitioned to dominating high-roller events.

Chidwick has been a force on the European Poker Tour (EPT) circuit. According to WSOP.com, he holds 11 EPT titles, 30 EPT final tables, and 59 EPT money finishes. Notable EPT results include his third-place finish in the 2013 EPT Prague Main Event for $517,992 and his victory in the 2019 EPT €50,000 Super High Roller for $802,972. In 2022, he nearly added another EPT title with a runner-up finish in the €75,000 No-Limit Hold'em 8-Handed at the Triton Madrid series. His consistent performance on the EPT has solidified his reputation as one of Europe's premier tournament players.

Chidwick has numerous titles on the PokerGO Tour (PGT), a circuit that tracks elite high-roller events. His PGT victories include the 2021 Poker Masters #7 $10,000 NLH ($183,600), the 2022 Triton Madrid €100k Short Deck ($1,800,000), and the 2022 ARIA High Roller #14 $10,000 NLH ($174,000). He also has multiple top finishes in PGT events such as the 2025 U.S. Poker Open, where he cashed in three $10,100 NLH events. His PGT earnings exceed $66 million, reflecting his dominance in this competitive circuit.

Chidwick's 2024 WSOP Paradise bracelet win in the $50,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Championship was a highlight, earning $1,357,080. At the 2025 WSOP Paradise, he added five final-table appearances, including a fourth in the $50,000 PLO High Roller ($481,000) and a fifth in the $75,000 Triton PLO 6-Handed ($526,500). In 2026, he continued his success with cashes at the WSOP in the $25,000 NLH High Roller and $10,000 GGMillion$ High Roller, as well as at the U.S. Poker Open. As of early 2026, his live tournament earnings are over $79 million, placing him second on the all-time money list according to PokerNews (third per The Hendon Mob). He maintains an active presence on the high-roller circuit, frequently appearing in Triton, Super High Roller Bowl, and ARIA events.

In 2023, Chidwick added notable cashes at the World Series of Poker, including the $25,000 High Roller NLH (Event #16) and the $10,000 Secret Bounty NLH (Event #35). He also participated in the Super High Roller Bowl VIII, a $300,000 NLH event, and the Super High Roller Bowl $100,000 PLO event. Additionally, he cashed in the Poker Masters $50,000 NLH and $25,000 NLH events, as well as the PGT Mixed Games II Big Bet Mix tournament. These performances highlight his versatility across different formats and buy-ins.

Chidwick began 2024 with strong showings in the PokerGO Tour. He cashed in the PGT Kickoff #1 ($5,100 NLH) and multiple PGT Last Chance events. At the 2024 U.S. Poker Open, he finished in the money in Events #1, #2, and #7. He also cashed in the PokerGO Cup Events #5, #7, and #8, earning consistent scores. These results kept him among the top earners on the PGT leaderboard. Additionally, he played in the 2024 WSOP Paradise $25,000 PLO High Roller, finishing in the money.