James Akenhead is one of the most easily recognizable poker players in the UK, but it was not always this way. His amazing poker successes have come mainly in the last two years, but he is one of the most successful poker players during that time. James was a train driver and semi-professional pool player in the UK and discovered cards in the evening when playing Pool with friends after work.

James Akenhead Wsop

James Akenhead poker player profile. Get latest information, winnings and gallery. Akenhead could get back to the felt with a new-found appreciation for the money he was winning on a regular basis before stepping away. In the last couple of years, Akenhead has returned to poker with a vengeance, cashing five times in a fortnight at last year’s World Series of Poker, including a run to 192 nd in the $10,000 buy-in Main Event.

James Akenhead Poker Player

After showing a bit of talent at the game he entered a tournament in Newcastle where he came third winning just over $40,000. With that bankroll boost he boarded a plane and headed to Las Vegas for the 2008 World Series of Poker.* Entering the second event of the series which had a $1,500 buy-in he played his way to face Grant Hinkle heads up for the bracelet. Fate would intervene and he finished runner-up earning $520,000.

The 2009 World Series of Poker* main event was to be life changing for James. He went on a great run all the way to the final table and secured a place among the November nine which included Phil Ivey. During the intervening months between play, James managed to make the final table of the WSOPE main event and qualified for the final table of the Poker Million. He would finish 9th in both WSOP* main events, earning a combined total of around $1.5 million.

The final of the Poker Million in 2009 was shown live on Sky Sports in the UK and James beat players like Taylor Caby, Dag Martin Mikkelsen and Luke Schwartz to the title where he defeated Juha Helppi heads-up. It was his first major win and the relief in his interview immediately after winning was obvious. He won $500,000 for the win. It capped an amazing run for the British poker expert who, it seems, has the world at his feet going into 2010 and beyond.

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