Seat 5: Sam Stein - 5,855,000
Sam Stein, 23, is a professional poker player who came up through the online ranks and began trying his luck in the brick-and-mortar world as soon as he turned 21. Since then, he’s managed to collect more than $1.1 million in career tournament earnings.
His biggest cash was when he finished runner-up to Tom Marchese at the first North American Poker Tour event at the Venetian last February for $522,306. This followed another big cash at last year’s PCA where he was runner-up in a $5,000 buy-in side event for $168,390. At last summer’s World Series of Poker, he bubbled the final table in the $10,000 Pot-Limit Hold'em Championship, coming in tenth for $44,010. He also placed fifth at the World Poker Tour Legends of Poker event for $116,225 in August 2009.
Stein grew up in Los Angeles, but currently resides in Henderson, Nevada -- just outside Las Vegas. He won his seat to the PCA on Boxing Day in a $2,100 qualifier and will enter the final table with 5,855,000 in chips. That's good enough for third on the leader board.
Partial bio courtesy of PokerStars.