Pierre Neuville: Belgian poker legend and WSOP finalist has passed away

Pierre Neuville, a well-known Belgian poker player and WSOP Main Event finalist, has passed away at the age of 83. We remember his contribution to the world of poker and his life journey.

Pierre Neuville: Belgian poker legend and WSOP Main Event finalist passes away at age 83 Life and Career Outside Poker Pierre Neuville was born on January 2, 1943, in the small Belgian municipality of Montigny-le-Tilleul, home to just over 10,000 people. He remained loyal to his hometown throughout his life. He first discovered poker in 1957, and while studying at the Free University of Brussels (1963–1969), he regularly played in home games. After graduating, Neuville made a name for himself as an inventor and entrepreneur: he developed a board game dedicated to the famous cyclist Eddy Merckx, and later founded his own toy manufacturing company. In 1982, this business was sold to the American giant Hasbro, where Pierre took the position of vice president and remained in the company’s management for another ten years. From 1993, Neuville began a new chapter in his life, launching a personal consulting service. Among his clients were such well-known personalities as golfer Gary Player and Hollywood actor Kevin Costner. In 2008, Pierre fully retired, but it was then that his poker career reached a new level. Early Success and the Rise of His Poker Career According to The Hendon Mob database, Pierre Neuville’s first recorded cash in a live tournament was in November 2007: he finished 31st in a €1,650 buy-in event in Namur (Belgium), earning €5,022. Just two months later, in January 2008, Pierre finished 18th in the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure Main Event, which brought him $48,000. These successes convinced him to fully dedicate himself to poker. In 2009, Neuville made a deep run in the PokerStars European Poker Tour (EPT) Main Event in Sanremo, finishing 9th and earning €78,800—a new personal best. Later that year, he finished runner-up in the EPT Vilamoura Main Event, which brought him €257,681 and cemented his status as one of Belgium’s top players. From that moment, Pierre became a regular at EPT stops, frequently making the money. Despite his age, he was also active in online satellites, earning fame as the “Serial Qualifier”: in 2012, he was named “Online Qualifier of the Year” on PokerStars, having qualified for 23 consecutive EPT Main Events. This unique record earned him the nickname that followed him for the rest of his career. Reaching the WSOP Main Event Final Table and Further Success 2015 was a special year for Pierre Neuville. That year, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Global Poker Awards, where he delivered the inspiring phrase: “The best is yet to come.” The prediction proved prophetic—later that summer, Pierre reached the final table of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event in Las Vegas. Before the final table resumed, he told PokerNews that he was “living the dream—the most beautiful dream for someone in love with poker.” Pierre entered the final table fourth in chips but finished the tournament in 7th place, earning $1,203,293—his first and only seven-figure cash in his poker career. In the following years, Pierre Neuville continued to make deep runs at the WSOP. In 2014, he finished second in the $5,000 No-Limit Hold’em 6-Handed event, and in 2016, he again finished second, this time in the $1,500 No-Limit Hold’em 6-Handed event. In 2019, he reached the final table of WSOP Europe in Rozvadov (Czech Republic) in the €2,500 No-Limit Short Deck Hold’em event, finishing 7th. From 2020, Pierre mainly played in small buy-in tournaments in Namur and Rozvadov. From December 2022 to November 2024, out of his 91 cashes, only 16 were in tournaments outside Casino de Namur and Grand Casino Brussels, and none of those had a buy-in higher than €1,100. In 2024, Pierre attended the WSOP in Las Vegas, where he cashed in three main series events and seven PokerNews Daily Deepstacks tournaments. In May 2025, he publicly announced his diagnosis—late-stage prostate cancer. Pierre made his last public appearance at the PokerStars Open Namur 2025. Pierre Neuville’s Biggest Live Tournament Achievements Over his long career, Pierre Neuville achieved many successes on the international stage. Here are his five largest cashes: 7th place — WSOP Main Event 2015, Las Vegas, USA — $1,203,293 2nd place — EPT Vilamoura Main Event 2009, Vilamoura, Portugal — €257,681 2nd place — WSOP $5,000 No-Limit Hold’em 6-Handed 2014, Las Vegas, USA — $385,041 2nd place — WSOP $1,500 No-Limit Hold’em 6-Handed 2016, Las Vegas, USA — $213,837 9th place — EPT Sanremo Main Event 2009, Sanremo, Italy — €78,800 Poker Legacy and Final Years Pierre Neuville was not only one of Belgium’s most successful players, but also an inspiration to many poker fans around the world. His career spanned decades, and his achievements in the biggest series—EPT and WSOP—made him a recognizable face in European poker. A special place in his biography belongs to the nickname “Serial Qualifier”—for his outstanding success in online satellites, which allowed him to repeatedly reach the continent’s main events. Even in his later years, despite his age and health issues, Pierre continued to actively participate in tournaments, especially in Belgium and the Czech Republic. His resilience, love for the game, and willingness to share his experience with other players became part of his legacy. In May 2025, Pierre announced his serious diagnosis, but continued to play and communicate with the poker community until the very end. In June 2025, it was reported that he had passed away after a long battle with prostate cancer. PokerNews expressed condolences to his wife Claudine, friends, and Pierre Neuville’s family. Pierre Neuville’s Largest Tournament Cashes Table Place Tournament Year Location Prize 7 WSOP Main Event 2015 Las Vegas, USA $1,203,293 2 EPT Vilamoura Main Event 2009 Vilamoura, Portugal €257,681 2 WSOP $5,000 NLHE 6-Handed 2014 Las Vegas, USA $385,041 2 WSOP $1,500 NLHE 6-Handed 2016 Las Vegas, USA $213,837 9 EPT Sanremo Main Event 2009 Sanremo, Italy €78,800 Explanations of Poker Formats and Terms WSOP (World Series of Poker) — the largest and most prestigious poker tournament series in the world, held annually in Las Vegas. Main Event — the main tournament of the series, usually with the largest buy-in and prize pool. EPT (European Poker Tour) — the leading European poker tournament series, held in various countries across Europe. 6-Handed — a tournament format where six players are seated at each table, making the game more aggressive and dynamic. Short Deck — a poker variant where cards from deuces to fives are removed from the deck, changing the odds and strategy of the game. Satellite — a tournament where tickets (qualifications) to larger events are awarded as prizes. Online Qualifier — a player who earned a seat in a major tournament through an online qualifying event. What This Means for PPPoker Club Players Pierre Neuville’s story is an inspiring example for all PPPoker club members. His journey shows that success in poker is possible at any age if you are willing to learn, improve your game, and embrace new challenges. Even starting his live tournament career later in life, Pierre reached the final table of the world’s most prestigious tournament and became a recognizable player on the European scene. His success in satellites and online qualifiers is especially noteworthy: regular wins in qualifiers allowed him to participate in the biggest EPT events without spending huge amounts on buy-ins. For PPPoker players, this is a great reason to take advantage of internal satellites and qualifying tournaments to reach bigger events or raise their level of play. Finally, Pierre Neuville’s example teaches us to value poker as a lifelong game, where not only money matters, but also communication, growth, and enjoyment of the process. Regardless of age or location, every player can find their own path to success by using all the tools PPPoker offers: club tournaments, satellites, training, and sharing experiences with other community members.