David Benyamine

Birthplace
Paris, France

Birthday
July 5

Total Winnings
$1,864,257

David Benaymineis a Paris-based poker pro who hails from the south of France. In Season II of the World Poker Tour the young poker star went head-to-head with top Americans and Europeans at the Aviation Club de France and lived to tell the tale, taking home the first place win and $410,886. The 2003 victory was a meaningful one for Benyamine, not only because it was his first major title, but also because it was held at the place he learned to play the game—the Aviation Club.

Since then, the tennis pro turned poker superstar has found success all over the world both in tournaments and at the cash game tables. Later that WPT season, Benyamine was back at the final table, this time at the LA Poker Classic. In 2008, Benyamine won his first WSOP bracelet in the $10,000 Omaha Hi-Lo event, then followed that up with a runner-up showing at the WPT’s Bellagio Cup IV. In 2010, Benyamine found success at the Bellagio again, mking his fourth career WPT final table at the Season VIII WPT World Championship, where he finished in fourth place.

Though Benyamine’s tournament earnings top out at more than $6.1 million, he is actually better known for his cash games than his tournament skills. Over the years, he has consistently been found at some of the highest stakes online poker has to offer and has spent plenty of time grinding cash in the Vegas card rooms.