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David “Chino” Rheem is an American professional poker player and one of the most polarizing and resilient figures in the history of the game. A three-time World Poker Tour (WPT) champion and a legendary final tablist of the WSOP Main Event, Rheem is renowned for his world-class technical ability and his status as one of the most feared tournament competitors of the modern era.
Career Earnings & Biggest Results
With total live tournament earnings surpassing $19,420,000 (according to The Hendon Mob), Rheem ranks as one of the most successful players in California’s history. His career-best live score of $1,772,650 came from his 7th-place finish in the 2008 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event. Rheem holds a record-tying three WPT titles, including victories at the Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic and the WPT World Championship. Recently, he has been a dominant force on the Triton Poker Series and PokerGO Tour, securing multiple titles and top finishes throughout 2025 and early 2026. His consistent high-stakes results and massive scores in PCA and Epic Poker League events contribute to an estimated poker net worth of over $17 million.
Biography & Poker Background
Born in 1980 in Los Angeles, California, “Chino” Rheem discovered poker in the card rooms of Florida before the “Moneymaker Boom” transformed the industry. He began his professional career as a limit hold’em and stud player before transitioning to the tournament format where his hyper-aggressive style found immediate success. Rheem’s journey has been marked by extreme peaks and troughs, earning him a reputation for being one of the game’s most resilient “comeback kings.” In 2025 and 2026, he reached a career renaissance, dominating the PokerGO circuit and securing his place as a top-20 Global Poker Index (GPI) ranked player. Beyond his skill, he is a central figure in poker’s cultural history, known for his charismatic yet controversial persona and his ties to the legendary “Poker Pack” crew.
Play Style & Strategy
Rheem is renowned for a “creative, relentless, and psychological” play style. He is widely considered one of the most intuitive players in the world, often relying on his ability to “soul-read” opponents to make incredible hero calls or polarize his range in high-pressure river spots. While he has successfully integrated modern GTO (Game Theory Optimal) concepts into his game—as evidenced by his recent WSOP mixed-game and high-roller success—his core strategy remains rooted in exploitative aggression. He describes his approach as “going for all the chips,” a philosophy that leads to higher variance but results in more first-place finishes than most of his peers. This fearlessness makes him particularly dangerous in the late stages of Triton Poker Series events, where he excels at leveraging his stack to apply maximum pressure on risk-averse opponents.
Social Media & Online Presence
Want to follow David “Chino” Rheem’s journey as he continues to add to his record-breaking WPT and high-stakes resume? You can do so here:
