Joseph Olivieri: 20-year-old phenomenon with two WSOP bracelets

Learn how young talent Joseph Olivieri has already won two WSOP bracelets and become a sensation in the poker world. His journey, achievements, and future prospects — in our review.

The world of poker regularly sees the emergence of new rising stars, but few young players can boast achievements like those of Joseph Olivieri. Despite being only 20 years old and not yet of legal age to play in many US poker rooms, Olivieri has already built an impressive collection of titles and demonstrated a remarkably mature game on the international stage. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at his journey, accomplishments, upcoming plans, and what his story could mean for PPPoker club players. Early Start: From Private Home Games to Professional Poker Joseph Olivieri’s path in poker began unusually early—at just 16 years old. At the time, he was living in North Carolina and took part in private home games, mainly to spend time with his father. In addition to poker, he played soccer and rugby as a child, but by the end of high school, his interests had shifted toward poker. As Olivieri himself admits, during his senior years he started devoting more time to poker than to his studies, especially after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the switch to remote learning. According to him, online classes didn’t interest him, and poker became his main passion. After graduating from high school, Olivieri chose not to attend college or take a regular job. By that point, he already had the skills to earn a living playing poker. However, age restrictions became an obstacle: in most US poker rooms, you must be at least 21 to play. First Successes: Seminole Hard Rock and WSOP Circuit Age restrictions didn’t stop Olivieri from quickly making a name for himself on the professional scene. In his home state of North Carolina, he couldn’t play legally, but he found the right venue— Seminole Hard Rock Poker (SHRP) in Hollywood, Florida, where the minimum age is 18. There, he captured seven SHRP tournament titles in just 18 months. For comparison, the record holder for most titles in this series is Raminder Singh, who has 21 victories, but he’s been playing in South Florida for many years. Another major achievement was his victory at a WSOP Circuit stop in Texas, where Olivieri won his second championship ring. In Event #3: Pot-Limit Big O , held at TCH Social in Austin, he took first place and earned $31,990 in prize money. In the final heads-up, he faced experienced pro Yuval Bronshtein—a WSOP bracelet winner with over $4,000,000 in live tournament earnings. By defeating such a formidable opponent, Olivieri proved his high level of play. To date, Olivieri’s total live tournament winnings are around $300,000. For a player under 21, this is an outstanding result—one that only a handful have achieved in the history of American poker. Joseph Olivieri’s Statistics and Tournament Achievements 2 WSOP Circuit rings 7 Seminole Hard Rock Poker (SHRP) titles in 18 months Approximately $300,000 in live tournament winnings Victory in WSOP Circuit Event #3: Pot-Limit Big O (TCH Social, Austin, Texas) — $31,990 3 ITM (in the money) finishes at the Asian Poker Tour (APT), including one win For comparison, Raminder Singh, the leader in SHRP titles, has 21 wins, but achieved them over many years. Olivieri, on the other hand, reached his seven victories in less than two years. Results Table for WSOP Circuit Event #3: Pot-Limit Big O (TCH Social, Austin, Texas) 1st place — Joseph Olivieri — $31,990 2nd place — Yuval Bronshtein Focus on Mixed Games and Future Plans Unlike most young players who focus on the popular No-Limit Hold’em, Olivieri prefers mixed games —formats where different poker variants rotate within a single tournament. He explains that there are few cash game options for mixed games, while tournaments offer more opportunities to showcase his skills. Nevertheless, Olivieri does not rule out participating in major No-Limit Hold’em tournaments in the future. His plans for the near future are quite ambitious. In December, he will head to WSOP Paradise , as the Bahamas allow players from age 18. As a WSOP Circuit event winner, he received a package for the trip and participation in the series. Olivieri plans to play several tournaments, and next summer he intends to go to Las Vegas and take part in the full World Series of Poker (WSOP) schedule for the first time, focusing primarily on mixed game tournaments. He also plans to visit Taiwan in November to play in the APT Championship . Olivieri already has three cashes at the Asian Poker Tour, including one win. Olivieri himself notes that he has no intention of changing professions and sees poker as a long-term career: “I’m only thinking about playing poker for a long time.” Olivieri’s Place Among Young Poker Stars Joseph Olivieri’s story stands out even among other young talents. In the US, there are very few players under 21 who can boast such tournament results. For comparison, Lucas Jumalon became the second youngest Main Event WSOP champion, winning the tournament at age 22. The absolute record belongs to Joe Cada, who became world champion in 2009 just weeks before his 22nd birthday. If Olivieri continues at this pace, he has every chance not only to catch up with but also to surpass the achievements of his young predecessors. Even now, his name is increasingly mentioned among the brightest hopes of American and world poker. What This Means for PPPoker Club Players Joseph Olivieri’s story is a great example of how early involvement in poker, systematic work on your game, and a focus on diverse disciplines can lead to impressive results even at such a young age. For PPPoker club players, this proves that you don’t have to limit yourself to only popular formats—mixed games and alternative variants can be a great opportunity for growth and for standing out among competitors. Moreover, Olivieri’s success shows that even with limited access to live rooms and major series, you can build a career by making the most of available venues and tournaments. In the PPPoker ecosystem, where club and interclub tournaments in various formats are held regularly, everyone has a chance to find their discipline and succeed, regardless of age or location. Finally, Olivieri’s example encourages players not to be afraid to participate in tournaments beyond their usual limits and regions. Take advantage of the opportunities PPPoker clubs offer, try new formats, and don’t restrict yourself to just one type of poker—perhaps that will be your key to success.