Josh Brikis

Josh Brikis is a professional poker player who made his first live-event cash in 2006. In the first 5 years, Josh cashed 43 times, made 14 final tables, won 2 events, cashed at the WSOP 9 times, and earned close to $1.3 million.

Josh was born on May 24, 1980 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where he grew up playing basketball and baseball. His father taught him about being a competitor, and Josh learned well, bringing home several sports trophies. After graduating from Penn State with a business degree, Josh went to work for MBNA America in Delaware, where a friend introduced Josh to poker in 2003. He began playing online at Party Poker and traveling weekly to the Borgata in Atlantic City, and in 2006, he decided to go pro. In 2008, poor bankroll management sent him briefly back into the workforce, but within a few months, he made a couple of big live-event cashes. With his new bankroll, he quit his part-time bank job to pursue poker full-time.

In 2006, Josh had his first live event cash of $1,125 when he finished 27th in the $500 NLHE at the Borgata Summer Open. In 2007, he cashed twice at the Borgata and once at the WSOP Warm-Up in Atlantic City. He started 2008 by cashing twice at the Borgata Winter Open, cashed twice at the WSOP Circuit event in Atlantic City, and cashed twice at the Deep Stack Chester, winning the $900 NLHE to earn $35,152. In December he was back in Atlantic City for another WSOP Circuit event, where he was runner-up in the $500 NLHE for $27,680.

Josh cashed in 6 Atlantic City events and once at the WSOP in 2009. He finished in the money twice at the WSOP Circuit Caesars Palace, and won the $300 NLHE at the Harrah’s Poker Open to earn $9,114. At the Borgata, he finished 4th for $63,382 in the $1,500 NLHE DeepStack, and at the WSOP, he finished runner-up in the $5,000 NLHE 6-Max to collect $619,608. To finish the year, Josh had a pair of runner-up finishes: at the Borgata Open $500 NLHE 6-Max worth $22,269, and at the WSOP Circuit Harrah’s Atlantic City$1,500 NLHE for $37,888.

Josh’s 17 cashes in 2010 included 6 in events at the Borgata, 4 on the WSOP Circuit, once at the NAPT Los Angeles, once at the L.A. Poker Open, and 5 at the WSOP. At the WSOP, Josh cashed 3 times in $1,500 NLHE events, including making the final table and finishing 8th in one for $54,579, and placing 20th in another for $20,653. In the Main Event, he finished 55th for $138,285. After the WSOP, won the $1,500 NLHE at the Borgata Poker Open, earning $119,034.

As of November, Josh had cashed 8 times in 2011. After cashing twice at the Borgata, he cashed 3 times at the WSOP, with his best results being 6th for $14,296 in the $1,500 NL Deuce-to-Seven, and 23rd place in the $1,500 NLHE for $19,127. He cashed twice again at the Borgata, and, in October, made the money in the $1,600 NLHE Main Event at the WSOP Circuit Hammond, finishing 34th for $8,365.

In August 2010, Josh got married and now lives with his wife Kristen in Pittsburgh. When he is away from the poker tables, he enjoys fantasy sports, golf, and watching his favorite sports teams, the Steelers and the Penguins.