World Poker Tour

Chris Hinchcliffe

Birthplace
Olympia, WA

Hometown
Olympia, WA

Birthday
August 21

Total Winnings
$449,443

At 5'10" and 280 pounds, Chris Hinchcliffe is a big guy and had his sights set on being something even bigger. As a kid, he and his friend would swing for the fences in mock home run derbies and pretend they were being interviewed in front of Major League Baseball cameras. He continued to play all the way through high school and it seemed he was on his way to making it to the big time. An arm injury ended those hopes.

With baseball behind him, he headed for the Navy and then home to Washington to work in construction. He built gas pipelines and played poker in his free time. When asked if he was an amateur poker player, he said, "Is there a step below amateur?" Still, his competitive spirit fueled a belief in his game that he said he loved so much it sometimes hurt. At first, fortune did not smile on him. Finally, though, a $25 satellite to a World Poker Tour event changed his life.

After getting in the Season 2 Party Poker Million, Hinchcliffe made it all the way to the final table, finishing in third place and earning more than $400,000 for his efforts. He bought a bar, continued to work, and continued to play cards. He has now more than $600,000 in lifetime live tournament winnings.