Is Bryn Kenney the ultimate Poker King?

Bryn Kenney is one of professional poker’s most successful and enigmatic figures. He is known for his fearless playing style, strategic brilliance, and record-breaking tournament earnings.

His rise to poker stardom has been marked by incredible highs and controversies that have sparked debates within the poker community.

In this article, we will look at his highs and lows. But first, let’s take a look at way back!

Early Life and Introduction to Card Games

Bryn Kenney was born on November 1, 1986, in Long Beach, New York. From an early age, he showed a love for cards. His journey started with another card-based strategy game: Magic: The Gathering.

As a teenager, Kenney became deeply immersed in Magic, a game that requires mathematical precision, deep strategy, and the ability to anticipate an opponent’s moves. He competed in high-level tournaments, sharpening his analytical skills and learning to stay composed under pressure—which would later serve him well in poker.

What is magic the gathering?

Magic: The Gathering (MTG) card game was created by mathematician Richard Garfield and released by Wizards of the Coast in 1993. The game was revolutionary as it introduced the concept of a trading card game (TCG), where players could build their decks from an ever-expanding pool of cards. 

Gameplay Overview

Players take on the role of powerful Planeswalkers, wielding magical spells, summoning creatures, and using artifacts to defeat their opponents.

Each player starts with a deck of at least 60 cards (in most formats) and begins with 20 life points. The objective is to reduce the opponent’s life total to zero or win through other special conditions provided by specific cards.

The game revolves around five colors of magic, each representing different playstyles:

• White – Order, protection, healing (angels, soldiers, clerics).
• Blue – Control, illusion, counterspells (wizards, sea creatures).
• Black – Power at a cost, sacrificing resources (demons, zombies).
• Red – Chaos, direct damage, aggression (dragons, goblins).
• Green – Growth, nature, large creatures (elves, beasts).

Each turn involves several phases: drawing cards, playing lands (mana), summoning creatures, casting spells, attacking, and defending. The mana system, where players use Land cards to generate energy for casting spells, is a key feature that adds strategic depth, forcing players to balance their resources carefully.

What started as a niche game played by a small community of fantasy and strategy enthusiasts has expanded into a global phenomenon with millions of players, a thriving professional scene, and a significant cultural impact. 

With the rise of digital gaming, MTG adapted by launching Magic: The Gathering Arena (MTG Arena) in 2019, allowing a new generation of players to experience the game online. MTG Arena made it easier for players to practice, experiment with decks, and compete in ranked play, leading to an even greater surge in popularity.

Streaming platforms like Twitch and YouTube have further contributed to the game’s visibility, with professional players and content creators sharing strategies, deck guides, and tournament coverage.

Magical Rise from Magic: The Gathering to Poker’s Elite

Bryn Kenney’s transition from Magic: The Gathering to poker was catalyzed by a pivotal moment in 2004 when David Williams, a fellow Magic player, finished as the runner-up in the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event, earning a life-changing $3.5 million. 

This event sent shockwaves through the Magic community, inspiring many, including Kenney, to consider poker a viable path to financial success. Kenney, who had already honed his strategic and analytical skills through Magic, saw poker as an opportunity to apply his talents in a new arena with potentially greater rewards

He started playing poker with his friends. By the time he was 17, he had moved online, using an account registered under his mother’s name. When he turned 18, he created his own account and fully immersed himself in the game.

Kenney wasn’t a consistently profitable player at that stage but had little enthusiasm for pursuing higher education. His mother encouraged him to attend college after high school, and he initially enrolled. However, within a few weeks, he realized it wasn’t the right path for him. Dropping out was risky, as he had no solid backup plan and had yet to establish himself as a winning player. 

After deciding to pursue poker full-time, Kenney quickly built his bankroll online, eventually playing some of the highest-stakes games available. His journey, however, was anything but stable, as his bankroll experienced extreme swings.

At 20, he traveled to the Bahamas and met Zack Stewart, known online as “Monkey101,” a regular opponent in high-stakes heads-up sit-and-gos. Shortly after the trip, Kenney lost his entire bankroll but was given an opportunity by Stewart, who invited him to Los Angeles and offered to stake him in live cash games. Within days, Kenney made a significant profit, which gave him the confidence to take bigger risks. He moved up in stakes rapidly, embarking on an incredible winning streak that saw him playing the biggest games in the casino, and within a month, he had a $1,000,000 profit.

This experience marked a turning point in his career. Under Stewart’s guidance, Kenney gained a deeper understanding of poker strategy, learning to focus less on his cards and more on his opponent’s range and decision-making.

His Rise in the Poker World

Bryn Kenney made his first recorded live tournament cash in 2007 at the East Coast Poker Championships in Verona, finishing second for $34,446 ( according to Hendon Mob), marking the beginning of his rise in the poker world. 

However, it wasn’t until 2010 that he gained mainstream recognition. He finished 8th in the $25,000 No Limit Hold’em—Six Handed event at the World Series of Poker (WSOP), earning $141,168. The same year, he made a deep run in the WSOP Main Event, finishing 28th for $255,242.

His first recorded event Super High Roller  cash came in  2011 at the Bahamas $100,000 + 500 No Limit Hold’em event, where he finished third for $643,000.

His momentum continued in the following years as he consistently cashed in tournaments worldwide.

WSOP Bracelet and Dominating High Roller Events

2014 Bryn Kenney won his first WSOP bracelet in the $1,500 10-Game Mix Six-Handed event, pocketing $153,220. This win showcased his versatility across multiple poker formats, proving he wasn’t just a No-Limit Hold’em specialist but a well-rounded player capable of excelling in mixed games.

From there, his career skyrocketed. He began competing in High Roller and Super High Roller tournaments, where buy-ins range from $50,000 to $1,000,000, and he kept cashing and winning tournaments against the best players in the world. 

Kenney’s fearless approach and ability to exploit weaknesses in his opponents’ strategies helped him to navigate even the toughest fields.

Triton Million 2019

Poker tournaments with million-dollar buy-ins are a rare spectacle, but when they do happen, they capture the attention of the entire poker world. One such historic event was the Triton Million – A Helping Hand for Charity, which set new records for the biggest buy-in poker tournament ever held.

The event featured a staggering £1,050,000 buy-in, attracting a mix of elite poker professionals and high-stakes recreational players. 54 entrants contributed to an enormous £54 million prize pool, with £2.7 million dedicated to charitable causes, reinforcing the tournament’s philanthropic mission.

The final table showcased world-class play as the action unfolded, but it all came down to Aaron Zang and Bryn Kenney in heads-up play. Despite Zang ultimately securing the title, Kenney walked away with the biggest payday. 

The two struck a deal before battling for the trophy, as Kenney held a commanding chip lead. As a result, Kenney locked up £16,890,509 (approximately $20,537,000 USD), while Zang took £13,779,491 ($16,775,000 USD) along with the prestige of becoming the Triton Million champion.

Triton Million Final Table Payouts

*Payouts after a heads-up deal.

Kenney’s historic cash became the largest single tournament prize ever won.

‘HAVING A FEELING’ 

Kenney’s confidence extended beyond his gameplay. He has been known for his aggressive approach to bankroll management, often investing significant portions of his net worth into high-stakes tournaments. 

In an interview with Joey Ingram following his monumental win, Kenney revealed that he had “half of his net worth on the line” during the Triton Million event.

He claimed that as soon as he heard about the one-million-dollar tournament at Triton, he could only think about that event. He told all his friends that he didn’t care about any World Series of Poker events or anything else and would mentally and physically prepare to win that tournament. 

Bryn Kenney’s high-risk, high-reward philosophy worked out unbelievably well this time, but can he continue his success with such high-risk bankroll management?

All-time money list goal

In a 2018 interview, he clarified that his goal was to be number one on the all-time money list. 

There’s no way I take my foot off the gas until I’m the No. 1 all-time winner, It’s guaranteed. Just watch and see it. Probably in the next two years.

His prediction was spot on. Kenney started 2019 with under 30,000,000 in career cashes, but in six months, he won $28,890,525 in live tournaments.

This six-month period alone would have ranked him 11th on that list, placing him before players like Antonio Esfandiari ($27,810,801), Phil Ivey ($26,398,145), and Phil Hellmuth ($22,999,083) at that time.

Bryn Kenny continuous his dominance at the Triton Series

Bryn Kenney shows no sign of slowing down. He played seven events at the Triton Poker Super High Roller Series in Jeju, South Korea, held from February 26 to March 14, 2025, and proved he wants to play and make his lead on the money list even more significant.

Event #8: $50,000 NLH

The $50,000 NLH 7-Handed event attracted 215 entries and generated a prize pool of $10,750,000—the first eight-figure prizepool of the series.

He surged into the chip lead during Day 2 and reached the final table with a big stack. Despite fierce competition from elite players like Mario Mosböck, Steve O’Dwyer, and Juan Pardo, Kenney finished as the runner-up after a heads-up deal with Mosböck.

Triton Poker Jeju $50,000 NLHE 7-Handed Final Table Results

*Payouts after a heads-up deal.

Event #10: $50,000 NLH Turbo Bounty Quattro

Bryn Kenney’s standout achievement came in Event #10, a fast-paced turbo bounty tournament that drew 121 entries. Entering the final table with the second-largest stack, Kenney eliminated five players en route to heads-up play against Jon Ander Vallinas.

The heads-up battle lasted just one hand as Kenney called Vallinas jam with K♦ Q♥, Vallinas had 7♠ 9♠. Kenny hit a queen and won the title and $839,000 plus $480,000 in bounties.

This victory marked Kenney’s fifth Triton Poker title, tying him with legends like Phil Ivey and Mikita Badziakouski for second place on Triton’s all-time title leaderboard. Still, he is at the top of the Triton Poker Series all-time-money-list-with with $48,218,135.

Cheating Allegations

Bryn Kenney’s journey in poker is nothing short of extraordinary. He has conquered the biggest games, outplayed the world’s top competitors, and even accurately predicted his rise to the top of the all-time money list.

However, his story also includes controversies and allegations that overshadow his otherwise remarkable career.

The most significant controversy surrounding Bryn Kenney involves allegations of cheating and running a cheating operation. In April 2022, Martin Zamani, a former friend and WSOP bracelet winner, accused Kenney of orchestrating a cheating ring on platforms like GGPoker. Zamani claimed that Kenney’s players were forced to collude in satellites, ghosting, and use real-time assistance (RTA).

Zamani’s accusations were detailed in a podcast with Doug Polk, in which he described Kenney’s operation as cult-like. Players were required to follow a specific lifestyle, including a vegan diet, and adhere to Kenney’s demands.

Zamani also shared bizarre stories involving shamans and frog poison rituals, further fueling the perception of Kenney as a cult leader.

Kenney responded to these allegations in an interview with PokerNews, admitting minor infractions but denying most of the claims. However, his responses were met with skepticism by many in the poker community, who questioned his credibility.

Overall, Bryn Kenney’s controversies have significantly impacted his reputation and standing in the poker world. Many view him now as untrustworthy and associated with unethical practices.

The Final Hand: Legend or Outcast?

Bryn Kenney’s poker saga is a rollercoaster of epic wins and battles—both at the table and in the court of public opinion.

With $75,778,346 in tournament earnings, a WSOP bracelet, and a record-shattering Triton Million cash, from his Magic: The Gathering roots to his poker dominance, Kenney’s proven he’s a force of nature, a strategic savant who turned intuition into millions.

His bold prediction to top the all-time money list? He didn’t just meet it—he crushed it.

I truly believe he’s is the ultimate poker tournament king, at least for now!