Steve O’Dwyer: Biography, Career and Poker Results

November 1, 2026

Table of Contents

Steve O’Dwyer is a professional poker player born in Colorado in 1982 who lives in Dublin and plays under the Irish flag. A regular in the biggest buy-in live events, he won the 2013 European Poker Tour Grand Final Main Event in Monte Carlo, a string of high roller and super high roller titles and the 2022 Irish Poker Open, and he has more than $47 million in live tournament earnings without a World Series of Poker bracelet. ^[1][3][12]

Steve O'Dwyer, professional poker player, at the WPT Korea Main Event in 2023 — Photo: World Poker Tour, licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0.

Steve O’Dwyer: key facts

Full name	Steve O’Dwyer
Country	Ireland (listed); born in the United States ^[1][3]
Born	April 6, 1982, Colorado ^[1]
Based in	Dublin, Ireland ^[12]
Known for	High roller and super high roller tournaments; the 2013 EPT Grand Final Main Event ^[1][4]
WSOP bracelets	None ^[1][3]
Major titles	EPT Grand Final Main Event 2013; ACOP HK$500,000 Super High Roller 2014; PCA $100,000 Super High Roller 2015; Aussie Millions $250,000 Challenge 2016; Irish Poker Open Main Event 2022 ^{[4][6][7][8][12]}
Live tournament earnings	$47,031,130 as of October 27, 2026 ^[1]
Tournament wins	34 wins and 287 cashes recorded by Card Player (live and real-name online) ^[2]

Early life and first steps in poker

O’Dwyer was born on April 6, 1982, in Colorado. He graduated from East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina, with a Bachelor of Science in Communications and worked briefly in broadcasting before turning to poker. He was drawn to the game after watching Chris Moneymaker win the 2003 World Series of Poker. ^[1]

He cashed in his first live tournament at the age of 25, and his recorded live earnings date back to 2007. He is friends with fellow professionals Scott Seiver and Isaac Haxton. ^[1] In 2011 he finished second in the EPT London Main Event for £465,000. ^[1]

Breakthrough: the 2013 EPT Grand Final

In May 2013 O’Dwyer won the Season 9 European Poker Tour Grand Final Main Event in Monte Carlo, beating a field of 531 players for €1,224,000 ($1,604,972). PokerNews described the final table as “arguably the toughest final table in EPT history”: Andrew Pantling finished second for €842,000, Johnny Lodden third, Daniel Negreanu fourth and Jason Mercier seventh. The title came after four EPT final tables in 18 months. ^[4][1]

On the final hand O’Dwyer flopped trips with ten-eight, Pantling turned a flush and the two players got all the chips in, before an eight on the river gave O’Dwyer four of a kind. ^[4] Writing for ESPN, Andrew Feldman called him “the man who has dominated the European felt since Black Friday”, and the win moved him into fifth on the 2013 money list. ^[5]

Playing style

O’Dwyer is a No-Limit Hold’em tournament specialist and, in the words of PokerNews, “a regular in the biggest buy-in live events globally”. ^[1] Reports of his wins describe a player willing to make thin calls and bluffs in big spots. He called a river all-in with ace high to win the 2015 PCA $100,000 Super High Roller, and at the 2018 PCA he bluffed Byron Kaverman off top pair holding six high, saying afterwards that he knew Kaverman had no time bank left. ^[7][10]

He has also been a consistent winner online. In 2020 he won the PokerStars SCOOP $25,000 Super High Roller for $521,598 and, on a single day in July, two $5,000 high roller events on GGPoker, the second after beating Kristen Bicknell heads-up. ^[1][11]

Greatest achievements

The super high roller years

Between 2014 and 2018 O’Dwyer won a series of high roller events on the PokerStars and Aussie Millions schedules. In November 2014 he topped 102 entries in the ACOP “Macau Billionaire Poker” HK$500,000 Super High Roller for HK$14,050,000 ($1,811,638), calling a river shove from Ryan Fee with an eight-high flush on the final hand. ^[6] Two months later he won the PCA $100,000 Super High Roller from a record 66 entries for $1,872,580, with Roger Sippl second and Bryn Kenney third. ^[7]

Later in 2015 he won the EPT Malta €10,200 Single-Day High Roller and the EPT Prague €50,000 Super High Roller. In January 2016 he took the PCA $50,000 Single-Day High Roller for $945,495, and weeks later the Aussie Millions LK Boutique $250,000 Challenge in Melbourne, beating David Peters heads-up for AU$951,960. PokerNews described his record at that point as a “Poker Hall of Fame-worthy résumé”. ^[8][1] In April 2017 he won the HK$400,000 Super High Roller at PokerStars Championship Macau from 88 entries, after a heads-up deal with Fedor Holz, and in January 2018 he won the PCA $50,000 High Roller again, beating Byron Kaverman for $769,500. ^[9][10]

Tournament results

Year	Event	Result	Prize	Source
2024	Triton Montenegro $200,000 No-Limit Hold’em (93 entrants)	3rd	$2,157,000	[13]
2015	PCA $100,000 Super High Roller (66 entries)	1st	$1,872,580	[7]
2014	ACOP HK$500,000 Super High Roller, Macau (102 entries)	1st	$1,811,638	[6]
2017	ACOP Macau Super High Roller	2nd	$1,520,565	[1]
2013	EPT Grand Final Main Event, Monte Carlo (531 players)	1st	€1,224,000	[4]
2018	Caribbean Poker Party $25,500 MILLIONS World	2nd	$1,300,000	[1]
2023	Triton Cyprus $100,000 Main Event	3rd	$1,171,000	[1]
2016	Aussie Millions $250,000 Challenge (16 entries)	1st	AU$951,960	[8]
2016	PCA $50,000 Single-Day High Roller	1st	$945,495	[8]
2015	EPT Prague €50,000 Super High Roller	1st	€746,543	[1]
2018	PCA $50,000 High Roller (46 entries)	1st	$769,500	[10]
2011	EPT London Main Event	2nd	£465,000	[1]
2022	EPT Barcelona €25,000 No-Limit Hold’em	1st	€405,760	[1]
2022	Irish Poker Open €1,150 Main Event (2,040 entries)	1st	€318,700	[12]

The 2022 Irish Poker Open

In April 2022 the Irish Poker Open returned to a live format after two years online, and its €1,150 Main Event drew a record live field of 2,040 entries to the Citywest Hotel in Dublin. O’Dwyer, described by Card Player as “the American-born resident of Dublin”, began the final day as chip leader, eliminated every remaining opponent and beat Kyle Maguire heads-up for €318,700 ($344,196). ^[12] He has kept playing smaller events in Ireland: in November 2024 he won a €5 Punters vs. Pros tournament at the Dublin City University Poker Society, outlasting 99 opponents. ^[1]

Triton and the career-best cash

O’Dwyer’s largest single cash came in May 2024 at Triton Montenegro, where he finished third of 93 entrants in the $200,000 No-Limit Hold’em event for $2,157,000. Wiktor Malinowski won the event and eliminated him in third place. ^[13] PokerNews counts eight other seven-figure scores in his career and lists tournament wins in 18 countries, from the United States, Monaco and Macau to Australia, Panama, Montenegro, Ireland and Spain. According to The Hendon Mob, as reported by PokerNews, he tops Colorado’s all-time poker money list. ^[1]

World Series of Poker

O’Dwyer has never won a WSOP bracelet, mainly because he tends to skip the summer series in Las Vegas and play online instead. ^[1] In December 2023 Card Player ranked him 12th on poker’s all-time money list and called him “the highest-earning tournament player in the world without a win at the WSOP”. It counted just four WSOP cashes for him since the start of 2013, with a fifth place in the 2015 WSOP Europe €550 “Oktoberfest” event as his closest finish to a title. ^[3]

In his own words

“People are saying this was the toughest final table of all time, so for me to be able to say that I won is unbelievable. I am in shock.” After winning the EPT Grand Final, May 2013. ^[5]
“At the start of the final, I knew I needed to get lucky to win because these guys are so good. It’s very satisfying to finally have that title.” May 2013. ^[5]
“Thank god I played it bad and shoved the turn, because he would have probably check folded the river.” On the final hand in Monte Carlo, 2013. ^[5]
“I am really happy to win this, maybe more than any other poker tournament I have ever played. It was special, especially not being able to play live after such a long time.” After winning the Irish Poker Open, April 2022. ^[12]

Iconic hands and moments

How Steve won €1.2 million in Monte Carlo (PokerStars)

Kings against queens in the MILLIONS World (partypoker)

The ups and downs of Steve O’Dwyer at WPT Venice (World Poker Tour)

FAQ about Steve O’Dwyer

How old is Steve O’Dwyer?

Steve O’Dwyer was born on April 6, 1982, so he is 44 years old as of October 2026. ^[1]

Is Steve O’Dwyer Irish or American?

He was born in Colorado, but he lives in Dublin and is listed under Ireland in tournament results. Card Player lists him as “US/Ireland”. ^[1][3][12]

What is Steve O’Dwyer’s net worth?

There is no reliable public figure for his net worth. What can be verified is his live tournament record: $47,031,130 in earnings as of October 27, 2026, according to PokerNews, which uses data from The Hendon Mob. Prize totals do not show buy-ins, staking deals or shares of action sold to others. ^[1]

Has Steve O’Dwyer won a WSOP bracelet?

No. He rarely plays the World Series of Poker, and in 2023 Card Player called him the highest-earning tournament player in the world without a WSOP win. ^[1][3]

What is Steve O’Dwyer’s biggest win?

His largest first prize is the $1,872,580 he won in the 2015 PCA $100,000 Super High Roller. His largest single cash is $2,157,000 for third place in the $200,000 event at Triton Montenegro in 2024. ^[7][13]

Did Steve O’Dwyer win the EPT Main Event?

Yes. He won the 2013 EPT Grand Final Main Event in Monte Carlo for €1,224,000, his only EPT Main Event title. He also finished second in the 2011 EPT London Main Event. ^[4][1]

Did Steve O’Dwyer win the Irish Poker Open?

Yes. He won the 2022 Irish Poker Open Main Event in Dublin from a record live field of 2,040 entries, taking €318,700. ^[12]

How many tournaments has Steve O’Dwyer won?

Card Player records 34 tournament wins and 287 cashes for him, counting live events and online events with confirmed real-name results. ^[2]

Related Poker Legends

Read more about Isaac Haxton, a longtime friend from the high roller circuit, Fedor Holz, his heads-up opponent in the 2017 PokerStars Championship Macau Super High Roller, and Daniel Negreanu, who finished fourth at the 2013 EPT Grand Final that O’Dwyer won.