Sam Mastrogiannis
Sam Mastrogiannis is a Greek-American who was born in 1942 and who plays poker professionally. He does not have the same glittering career as some of his fellow professional poker players but his success at the World Series of Poker is well recognized.
Considering that he has cashed just four times at the World Series of Poker and of these four cashes he has won three gold bracelets, that is quite impressive. There are many professionals who have cashed plenty of times at this top tournament and who have yet to take home a gold bracelet.
Mastrogiannis first cashed at the World Series of Poker in 1979 in the $1000 Razz event and picked up $22,000 in prize money and his first WSOP gold bracelet. He did not cash again until 1986 when he came first in the $1000 Seven Card Stud event which saw him pick up his second gold bracelet and $78,400 in prize money. At the same tournament he bagged his third bracelet in the $1500 Seven Card Stud event and along with that came another $80,000 in tournament winnings.
Mastrogiannis’ last cash at the World Series of Poker was in 1997 when he placed 13th in the $2500 Seven Card Stud event. Prize money this time was $4225. His total tournament winnings at the WSOP was $184,825 from his four cashes. Total tournament winnings was $223,825 as he also finished in first position in the $5000 Seven Card Stud event at Amarillo Slim’s Superbowl of Poker in 1982 picking up another $39000.
With the tournament winnings he picked up during his career, Mastrogiannis started up his own shoe company and began his own line of shoes which he called the ‘Mastroni’.
