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James Carroll
James Carroll is a highly successful American professional poker player who has been a top performer in the game for over fifteen years. Originally from the Chicago area and now living in Las Vegas, he moved from being a young online star to a dominant force in live tournaments. Known for his two World Poker Tour titles and incredible consistency, Carroll has proven time and again that he can compete with the best in the world across the biggest poker tours.
Career Earnings & Biggest Results
With total live tournament winnings of over $7.5 million (according to The Hendon Mob), Carroll is a major name on the global money list.
His biggest career win happened in 2014 when he won the WPT Bay 101 Shooting Star main event for a huge $1,256,550. He showed this was no fluke in 2019 by winning his second WPT title at the Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown for $715,175. He has also come very close to winning a World Series of Poker bracelet multiple times, including a 2nd-place finish in the 2018 Monster Stack for $640,916 and another 2nd-place finish in the 2025 Millionaire Maker for $1,133,750.
Biography & Poker Background
Carroll grew up in the Chicago suburbs and started playing poker during his senior year of high school. What began as small $5 and $20 home games with friends quickly turned into a passion. He started playing online under the name “croll103” and found massive success, winning over $3 million in online tournaments before Black Friday changed the poker landscape in the United States.
After moving to Las Vegas to pursue poker full-time, Carroll became a fixture in the live tournament scene. He is known for his hard work and has recorded hundreds of cashes in everything from local daily tournaments to the world’s most expensive high-stakes events. Despite his massive success, he remains down-to-earth and is often described as one of the most humble professionals in the Las Vegas poker community.
Play Style & Strategy
Carroll is known for a very technical and disciplined style. Coming from an online background, he has a deep understanding of the math and theory behind the game. He is a “grinder” in the best sense of the word, meaning he puts in a lot of hours and plays a very solid, winning strategy that is hard for opponents to break down.
One of his biggest strengths is his mental toughness. Whether he is at a televised final table or playing a local high roller, he stays extremely calm and focused on the cards. He is also a very versatile player who can adapt to different games; while he is a master of No Limit Hold’em, he also puts up results in Pot Limit Omaha and other formats. He views poker as a professional craft that requires constant learning, which has allowed him to stay at the top of the game for nearly two decades.
Social Media & Online Presence
You can follow James “croll103” Carroll as he continues his 2026 run in major events like the Wynn Millions and the WSOP by checking his stats here:
Video Highlights:
My relationship with cards started thanks to my father. I was still in elementary school when he first taught me how to play Rummy, and I still remember the long evenings spent playing cards with my family. During the poker boom, I was still underage, but the televised tournaments immediately captured my attention. I became fascinated with the game and started learning different poker formats whenever I had the chance. Later in life, as an adult, I was fortunate enough to spend four years playing poker professionally. During that time, I mainly focused on Heads-Up Sit and Go games, where I found the format that suited me best. Even though my professional career was relatively short, poker remains something I’m grateful to have experienced as a major part of my life. Today, I play mostly as a hobby, while writing has become my main focus. That said, my enthusiasm for writing about poker is just as strong as my passion for playing the game once was.
