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Richard Gryko is an English professional poker player who has quietly become one of the most successful high-stakes specialists in the world. While many players chase the spotlight, Gryko has built his reputation through incredible consistency, particularly in Pot Limit Omaha (PLO). Rising from the UK tournament scene to the absolute highest stakes of the Triton Poker Series and the PokerGO Tour, he currently sits at 12th on England’s all-time money list, proving he belongs among the true legends of British poker.
Career Earnings & Biggest Results
With total live tournament earnings of over $7.2 million (according to The Hendon Mob), Gryko is a dominant force in the high-roller world. His most significant career victory came in May 2025 at the Triton Super High Roller Series Montenegro, where he won the $50,000 Pot Limit Omaha event for $884,000.
Gryko also reached a massive milestone in June 2025 at the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas, where he finished 3rd in the $50,000 PLO High Roller for $1,000,423, marking his first million-dollar score. His hot streak continued into late 2025 at WSOP Paradise, where he took 4th place in the $100,000 Triton PLO Main Event for $941,000 and another 4th place in the $75,000 PLO for $655,500.
Biography & Poker Background
Based in London, Richard Gryko has been a respected name in the poker community for nearly two decades. He first appeared on the live circuit back in 2005, playing local events in the UK and slowly moving up the ranks. Before he was a live high-stakes regular, he was a prolific online player under the screen name “validandnotinuse,” where he amassed over $1.5 million in winnings on PokerStars. While he originally found success in No Limit Hold’em, including an 18th-place finish in the 2017 WSOP Main Event, he eventually pivoted to focus on 4-card and 5-card games, which paved the way for his recent explosion as a world-class PLO specialist.
Play Style & Strategy
Gryko is often described by his peers as a highly disciplined and cerebral player. Unlike some of the more vocal personalities in the game, he remains calm and focused, letting his technical execution do the talking. He has a deep, specialized understanding of Pot Limit Omaha, a game known for its high swings and complex math. His strategy revolves around tight-aggressive play and a superior ability to navigate multi-way pots, which is why he is so successful in the “short-handed” high-roller formats. His transition from a Hold’em generalist to a PLO specialist is a perfect example of his ability to adapt as the game of poker evolves.
Social Media & Online Presence
Want to follow Richard Gryko as he continues his dominant run in the world’s biggest PLO events? You can track his latest stats and tournament progress 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.
