World Poker Tour

Harry Demetriou “Wise Owl“

Birthplace
London, England

Birthday
August 20

Total Winnings
$703,432

Born in London, UK, in August 1958, Harry's Greek Cypriot parents named their son Charidimos, which literally translated, means "happy thoughts." It's a fitting moniker for this affable, intelligent international player. Demetriou is a former clinical scientist for National Health Service in London, England, where he still lives.

Having become a successful "gambler" in stock market futures, Demetriou next took his mathematical intellect to poker, after a chance encounter with his friend, Paul Magriel, introduced him to the game. Known to poker circles as X-22, this poker pro was only known to Harry as a world-class backgammon player, something the two shared in common. Prior to boarding a flight for the European World Backgammon Championships in 2001, Magriel took Harry out for all night crash poker training session in Vegas. The two drove straight to the airport, Magriel gave him a book on poker that he read on the flight, and Demetriou was hooked. He quickly improved, making the final table in his first tournament, the 2002 World Series.

Demetriou believes that poker as a profession demands that one stay fit both mentally and physically. He does so by working out regularly, playing soccer, reading every book on poker he can get his hands on, and by analyzing and discussing hands with friends and colleagues. An articulate, intelligent, dangerous opponent, he has been a successful professional poker player for the last 4 years, piling up over $2,000,000 in career earnings. He is currently playing both U.S. and international events, trotting across the globe as far as Australia and Asia.