888Ride: "There's Been A Lot of Misery & Pain" for Five-Time Bracelet Winner Benny Glaser
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Few players in the world can match the incredible list of poker achievements that Benny Glaser has amassed. At just 35 years old, the British poker phenom has already claimed five World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelets and an astonishing 26 Championship of Online Poker titles, including 11 Spring Championship of Online Poker (SCOOP) and 15 World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP) victories. Glaser's dominance in both live and online poker has solidified his reputation as one of the game's elite, making him a perfect guest for 888poker's popular web series and podcast, 888Ride.
In a candid episode of 888Ride, Glaser joined host David Tuchman for a drive around Las Vegas, where he opened up about the highs and lows of his journey to the top. Despite his impressive accolades, Glaser revealed that his path has been anything but smooth, marked by moments of pain and loneliness that often go unseen by the public.
A European Record-Holder with Humble Beginnings
Glaser's achievements under the WSOP banner have earned him the distinction of being the European player with the most WSOP bracelets—a milestone he takes great pride in. However, this level of success was something he never envisioned in his early days.
"Not realistically, no," Glaser admitted. "I was playing online back in the day for penny stakes or even in a pub league with my housemates seventeen years ago. Realistically, I didn't imagine being here."
Glaser's initial foray into the WSOP came in 2014 after years of grinding online. "The first year I came to the World Series, I decided to give it a shot, and I bricked everything," he recalled. Despite the disappointment, Glaser recognized his potential. "I had the realization when I came that I'm actually better than most of these guys that I had been watching on TV. I can definitely compete here."
The Journey to the Top
At face value, it appears that Glaser's ascent up the ranks has been straightforward and streamlined, but Glaser shared that this was not quite the case even today.
"There's been a lot of misery and pain and that kind of stuff. Even recently, right before this World Series, I was on the biggest downswing I've ever had by quite a way. People don't necessarily see how hard I fire. I'm firing really hard, playing all the Wynn 10Ks through March and I was just sadly running very bad at the higher stakes this year. There were two months, for example, where even though I won a SCOOP, I was still down a bunch on the series."
"It's often quite an isolated process, especially like SCOOP. I was staying by myself, grinding online, so you hope when you make those sacrifices that it's going to go well. It can kind of make it more painful If it doesn't.
"I used to grind heads-up sit and go's. That was a very insular process before I was successful. There was a lot of pain during that time. There's so much variance." talking about his 2013
"Jungleman" Looks For "Parabolic Positive Change" on 888Ride
The Rocky Road to Success
While Glaser's ascent in the poker world may seem smooth on the surface, he shared that the reality has been far from straightforward—even to this day.
"There's been a lot of misery and pain," Glaser confessed. "Even recently, right before this World Series, I was on the biggest downswing I've ever had by quite a way. People don't necessarily see how hard I fire. I'm playing all the Wynn 10Ks through March, and I was just sadly running very bad at the higher stakes this year."
Glaser also spoke about the isolation that often comes with the grind. "It's often quite an isolated process, especially during SCOOP. I was staying by myself, grinding online, so you hope when you make those sacrifices that it's going to go well. It can kind of make it more painful if it doesn't."
Reflecting on his early days, Glaser recalled the challenges of grinding heads-up sit-and-gos, describing it as a "very insular process" that involved a lot of pain due to the game's inherent variance.
The WSOP: A Dream Still Alive
Despite the ups and downs, Glaser remains passionate about the WSOP, viewing it as the pinnacle of poker competition. "I still think of it as the most prestigious festival of the year. I still want to be chasing bracelets, still want to be going for Player of the Year—stuff that I was wanting since I was young. I still have a bit of the dream and the special kind of feelings for that."
Glaser's aspirations are far from complete. When asked about the two accolades he most desires, he didn't hesitate: "Either winning the $50K [Poker Players Championship] or [WSOP] Player of the Year. I guess I lean more on Player of the Year. It's a little more prestigious in that way, and Poker Hall of Fame would be next."
Benny Glaser's WSOP Bracelet Wins
| Year | Event | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Event #33: $1,500 2-7 Triple Draw | $136,215 |
| 2016 | Event #26: $1,500 Omaha Hi-Low Split-8 or Better | $244,103 |
| 2016 | Event #32: $10,000 Omaha Hi-Low Split-8 or Better Championship | $407,194 |
| 2021 | Event #78: $10,000 Razz Championship | $274,693 |
| 2023 | $10,000 Limit 2-7 Triple Draw Championship | $311,428 |
Benny Glaser's 'COOP Wins
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