Reel it In: Global Citizen Adam Hendrix Becomes Alaska's All-Time Money Leader

Sep 16, 2019

Adam Hendrix

By Sean Chaffin

Outdoor opportunities abound for a boy growing up in Alaska – picturesque rivers and streams, thousands of wild acreage to explore, and jagged mountains for climbing. A youngster just has to step out the backdoor for fresh air and an opportunity for adventure and interacting with some wildlife like bears, moose, eagles, salmon, whales, and wolves all a part of life.

For poker player Adam Hendrix (pictured), among the field in Day 1a of the WPT Borgata Poker Open and fresh off a big score in Europe, casting his line to reel in some fish became his passion growing up in the last frontier. Poker would come later, but he’s caught some nice cash in recent years as well.

Growing up on the move

Originally from Anchorage, the 27-year-old poker pro has more than $1.2 million in live tournament winnings. After spending his early days in Alaska, his family moved regularly. His father worked in the oil industry and Hendrix grew up in various locations around the world including Scotland, Texas, and Egypt.

Spending time in Alaska remained a family tradition despite moving away.

“We have a cabin, so we always go fishing every summer,” he says. “I remember when we were abroad we’d always come back for summers in Tennessee or Alaska. We’d go back to each once or twice a year and always go fishing.”

Adam Hendrix WPT Borgata Poker Open

Among the places he’s lived, Scotland offered a challenge in adjusting to the weather.

“There are four seasons in a day,” he says, “rain, cold, sunshine, everything. It was a cool place though. We experienced a lot of historical places like castles and saw the whole countryside. I’ve been planning to go back there.”

Despite leaving Alaska in his childhood, his love of fishing remained. But it was a couple days away from the rod and reel that helped spark his interest in poker.

“Ever since I can remember I played variations of card games at my grandma’s house in Homer, Alaska, with relatives when we’d visit in the summers,” he says. “I remember spending a lot of days watching World Series of Poker Main Event coverage when I wanted to take a day off from fishing.”

Fishing to the felt

After high school, Hendrix attended Virginia Tech and majored in economics. He now lives in Arlington, Virginia, after working as a software engineer before venturing off two years ago to play poker full time.

After leaving his job in May 2017, the new career at the poker felt began in a big way. That summer he finished runner-up in a $1,500 Pot Limit Omaha Hi/Lo event for $137,992. 

“That helped my career right away,” he says.

Hendrix is a PLO cash game player when not traveling the tournament trail. His regular casino is MGM National Harbor in Maryland.

After those early days watching poker at his grandmother’s home, the game was forgotten until college. Then a few friends in his freshman dorm hall invited him in for some cards. He was hooked and the Virginia Tech Poker Club was born with Hendrix as a member.

Breaking through in Spain

In August, Hendrix came just short of winning his biggest title to date. In a field of 4,682 entries in the €1,100 EPT Barcelona National event, he finished runner-up and took home $384,231.

“It was such a huge relief,” he says of that big finish. “I felt such a need to prove myself on the international stage. I have been putting work into my game, questioning a lot of my decision making, and have been really hard on myself ever since I turned professional. So it’s really gratifying to see that Spanish flag on my Hendon Mob profile.”

It was the biggest score of his career and helped him leapfrog poker legend Perry Green in the all time money list for Alaskan players. Green, a three-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner from the series early days, is actually a family friend and has known his father even before Hendrix started playing poker.

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On the WPT, he has four cashes for almost $99,000. His best finishes came here at the Borgata in the WPT Winter Poker Open in Season XVI – finishing 12th for $51,819.

As a full-time poker player, travel has returned as a big part of life. After Hendrix’s big finish in Barcelona, he and some friends spent some time in Portugal. His travel schedule also now includes more WPT events as well. 

“It’s been a little easier to acclimate with traveling for poker because of just how I grew up,” he says. “I used to hate to travel, but now I enjoy it.”

Sean Chaffin is a freelance writer in Crandall, Texas, and his work appears in numerous websites and publications. Follow him on Twitter @PokerTraditions.

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