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Ylon Schwartz is an American professional poker player from Brooklyn, New York, who became a household name during the 2008 poker boom. Before he was a card shark, he was a well known hustle player in the New York City chess scene, spending his days playing for money in public parks. This background in high level strategy helped him transition perfectly into poker, where he became known for his incredible patience and ability to outlast the world’s best. With a World Series of Poker bracelet and a historic Main Event final table on his resume, he is respected as a true veteran of the East Coast gambling world.
Career Earnings & Biggest Results
According to The Hendon Mob, Ylon Schwartz has won over $5.1 million in live tournament earnings. His most famous achievement happened in 2008 when he became a member of the original “November Nine.” He finished in 4th place in the WSOP Main Event, taking home a massive life-changing score of $3,794,974.
Schwartz proved he wasn’t just a one hit wonder by winning a World Series of Poker (WSOP) gold bracelet in 2012. He took down the $2,500 H.O.R.S.E. event, which is a tournament that requires players to be masters of five different poker games, winning $267,081. He also has a WSOP Circuit ring from a victory in 2011. Throughout his career, he has posted hundreds of cashes in everything from the EPT in Europe to the L.A. Poker Classic. Most recently, in 2024 and 2025, he has continued to pick up results in mixed game tournaments and seniors events across the United States.
Biography & Poker Background
Born in 1970, Ylon Schwartz grew up in Manhattan and Brooklyn. Long before the poker world knew his name, he was a fixture in Washington Square Park as a chess hustler. He eventually reached the rank of FIDE Master, showing just how seriously he took strategy games. He began playing poker in the late 1990s in the underground clubs of New York City, which were the same places featured in the movie “Rounders.” He spent years as a “grinder,” playing for his daily living before his massive million dollar score in 2008 allowed him to play in the biggest games in the world. Even with his success, he remains a humble guy who still loves the pure strategy of a good game of chess or cards.
Play Style & Strategy
Schwartz is known for a very patient and disciplined style of play. Because of his chess background, he looks at poker like a long war rather than a quick battle. He is an expert at “reading the board” and understanding the mathematics of the game, which makes him especially dangerous in Mixed Games like H.O.R.S.E. where the rules are constantly changing. He doesn’t feel the need to be the loudest person at the table or play the flashiest hands. Instead, he focuses on making very few mistakes and waiting for his opponents to lose their cool. This calm approach is what allowed him to survive for seven days of play during his historic run to the WSOP Main Event final table.
Social Media & Online Presence
Want to follow Ylon Schwartz as he continues his 2026 run in the WSOP and other major tours? You can track his latest stats and tournament cashes here:
