Born April 6, 1982, in Colorado, Steve O’Dwyer got into poker after seeing Chris Moneymaker win the 2003 World Series of Poker (WSOP). A Bachelor of Science in Communications graduate from East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina, O’Dwyer worked briefly in broadcasting before making a career for himself in the poker world.
O’Dwyer, who is friends with fellow poker pros Scott Seiver and Isaac Haxton, had more than $31.5 million in lifetime earnings (as of summer 2022) dating back to 2007 according to The Hendon Mob. That includes a career-best of $1,872,580 for winning the 2015 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA) $100,000 Super High Roller.
He also has five other seven-figure scores including $1,811,638 for winning the 2014 APPT Macau Super High Roller; $1,604,972 for taking down the 2013 European Poker Tour (EPT) Monte Carlo Grand Final Main Event; $1,520,565 for placing second in the 2017 APPT Macau Super High Roller; $1,300,000 for taking second in the 2018 partypoker LIVE MILLIONS; and $1,088,783 for winning the 2017 PokerStars Championship Macau Super High Roller.
O’Dwyer, who now calls Ireland home, has also appeared at three final tables on the World Poker Tour (WPT) finishing sixth in the 2009 WPT Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic for $202,362; fifth in the 2012 WPT World Championship for $192,176; and runner-up in the 2011 WPT Venice for $125,740.
O’Dwyer is known for winning tournaments in countries all across the country, and in June 2022 added Spain to the list when he emerged victorious in the partypoker LIVE MILLIONS Europe Main Event in Barcelona, good for a €250,000 top prize.
World Series of Poker
The year 2007 was when O'Dwyer scored his first cash at the World Series of Poker. In fact he cashed in four events taking home a total of $70,000 in winnings. O'Dwyer made his first WSOP final table in 2009 when he finished eighth in the $10,000 World Championship Heads-Up event for more than $90,000. His best WSOP result so far came in 2011 when O'Dwyer placed sixth in the €3,000 No-Limit Hold'em Shootout event at the WSOP Europe in Cannes, France for almost $50,000.
Steve O'Dwyer's Top 5 WSOP Results
| Year | Event | Place | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | WSOPE Event #9: €100,000 King's Super High Roller | 13th | €161,587 ($184,107) |
| 2015 | WSOPE Event #2: The Oktoberfest €550 NLH | 5th | €43,409 ($48,904) |
| 2011 | WSOPE €3,000 No-Limit Hold'em Shootout | 6th | €36,357 ($48,568) |
| 2012 | WSOPE €51,000 Majestic Super High Roller | 7th | €130,000 ($169,604) |
| 2009 | $10,000 World Championship Heads-Up | 7th | $92,580 |
World Poker Tour (WPT)
It was at the WPT that O'Dwyer scored his first live tournament money finish. In January 2007 he entered the PokerStars Caribbean Poker Adventure $7,800 Championship Event and took home $17,787 in cash for the 38th place finish. However, his best WPT achievement came only five years later when O'Dwyer won the €1,500 WPT Main Event at the National Series in Vejle, Denmark, and took home more than $200,000 in prize money.
Steve O'Dwyer's Top 5 WPT Results
| Year | Event | Place | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | National Series - Denmark, Vejle €1,500 Main Event | 1st | €159,227 ($213,796) |
| 2012 | WPT Vienna €9,700 High Roller | 3rd | €42,780 ($56,986) |
| 2012 | WPT World Championship $25,000 Championship | 5th | $192,176 |
| 2011 | WPT Venice €3,000 Main Event | 2nd | €95,530 ($128,063) |
| 2009 | Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic $15,000 Main Event | 6th | $202,362 |
European Poker Tour
In 2011 O'Dwyer came just close to winning the European Poker Tour title when he finished second at the EPT London ￡5,000 Main Event. O'Dwyer lost the heads-up battle to the eventual winner, Germany's Benny Spindler and took home ￡465,000 for his runner-up finish. The same year he won an EPT side event in Loutraki, Greece. O'Dwyer topped the €1,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Rebuy tournament for €18,500.
Steve O'Dwyer's Top 5 EPT Results
| Year | Event | Place | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | EPT Monte Carlo €50,000 8-Handed NLH | 1st | €676,300 ($818,468 |
| 2016 | PCA $50,000 High Roller | 1st | $945,495 |
| 2015 | EPT Prague €50,000 Super High Roller | 1st | €746,543 ($809,752) |
| 2015 | PCA $100,000 Super High Roller | 1st | $1,872,580 |
| 2013 | EPT Monte Carlo Grand Final €10,000 Main Event | 1st | €1,224,000 ($1,604,972) |
Other Achievements
In July, 2011 O'Dwyer won the $5,000 No-Limit Hold'em event at the Bellagio Cup VII in Las Vegas collecting $259,452. Just one month later he took down the $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em / Pro-Am Event at the Epic Poker League Event 1 in Las Vegas for $43,810. Then in October 2012, O'Dwyer final tabled the €50,000 Majestic Roller / Re-Entry non-bracelet event at the WSOP Europe in Cannes, France. He placed seventh in that tournament for €130,000.
It's safe to sat that was the start of what would become a tremendous career. According to The Hendon Mob, O'Dwyer massed $1,423,679 in live tournament earnings in 2011, the first of many seven-figure years.
| Year | Worldwide Earnings |
|---|---|
| 2021 | $312,800 |
| 2020 | $501,477 |
| 2019 | $3,259,242 |
| 2018 | $6,425,031 |
| 2017 | $41,90,143 |
| 2016 | $3,998,535 |
| 2015 | $4,879,827 |
| 2014 | $1,852,500 |
| 2013 | $2,471,422 |
| 2012 | $884,779 |
| 2011 | $1,423,679 |
Did You Know?
- O'Dwyer cashed in his first live tournament at the age of 25.
- Black Friday hit O'Dwyer so hard that he had to sleep on Scott Seiver's floor throughout the entire 2011 WSOP and had to borrow money to buy food.
- O'Dwyer sits atop Colorado's all-time poker money list according to The Hendon Mob.
- He's won poker tournaments around the world including in the United States, Greece, Denmark, Monaco, Macau, Bahamas, Finland, Malta, Czech Republic, Australia, Georgia, Cyprus, Panama, England, The Netherlands, Montenegro, Ireland, and Spain
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