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Spencer Champlin
Spencer Champlin is an American professional poker player from Scarborough, Maine, who has quietly become one of the most successful grinders in the United States. Known for his incredible consistency and willingness to travel, he has risen to the very top of his home state’s all-time money list. Champlin is often described as a “grinder’s grinder,” someone who put in years of work at middle-stakes tables before successfully making the jump to high-roller events against the best in the world.
Career Earnings & Biggest Results
According to The Hendon Mob, Spencer Champlin has won over $4.3 million in live tournament earnings. His biggest career score came in early 2025 at the Lucky Hearts Poker Open in Hollywood, Florida. He finished in 2nd place in the $3,500 Championship event, taking home a massive $425,000 after a tough battle at the final table.
Champlin is a two-time WSOP Circuit ring winner, showing his ability to outlast massive fields in regional tours. However, 2024 was his true breakout year on the global stage. In September 2024, he won his first PokerGO Tour (PGT) title by taking down the Poker Masters Event #1 for $160,475. He famously won his seat into that high-stakes tournament through a small satellite, proving that he can compete with the elite “purple jacket” contenders in Las Vegas.
Biography & Poker Background
Spencer Champlin grew up in Maine and lived a relatively normal life before poker took over. For years, he worked a regular desk job while playing cards on the side. He eventually realized he was making enough money and felt confident enough in his skills to quit his job and play full-time. Since making that choice about eight years ago, he has become a fixture on the tournament circuit. Champlin is known for his extreme work ethic, often spending more than 40 weeks a year on the road. This dedication helped him pass every other player from Maine to become the #1 ranked player in his state’s history.
Play Style & Strategy
Champlin is best known for his steady and even-keeled mindset. Unlike some players who get frustrated by the “swings” of the game, he focuses on trusting his process and staying calm. He is a high-volume player, which means he plays as many tournaments as possible to let his edge play out over time. His strategy relies on being very disciplined and making few mistakes, even when he is the short stack at a final table. His victory at the Poker Masters showed that he isn’t intimidated by famous pros or high buy-ins, as he kept his cool during a long heads-up match to secure the win.
Social Media & Online Presence
You can follow Spencer Champlin’s progress as he travels to major stops like the WSOP, WPT, and SHRPO 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.
