Tom Dwan, whose fame extends to chat rooms and forums, is famous for being a great poker player. Due to his young age Dwan has inspired other young players into believing that they too could be successful and win huge amounts of cash by playing poker. He has become a role model to many young players wanting to play poker.

Tom started playing poker in New Jersey aged 17. At first he began by playing tables at Paradise Poker and then, SnGs at low stakes. Dwan then started using a screen name, the aim of which was to tilt other players. His screen name is ‘durrrr’, as he always felt he was a winner. Dwan later said that he was not worried about his ability, but always had a feeling that other players could not match his skills, and that this would be an easy way to make money. After playing poker for only two months Tom started playing cash tables.

By the age of 18 he already had winnings estimated to be $15,000, inspiring him to start searching for even higher stakes, while at the same time hoping his winning streak would continue. He then began playing $40/$80 limit and soon saw his winnings rise to $35,000.

Dwan then ran out of luck and his winning days came to an end. During this time he lost a total of $20,000 and was on the verge of losing everything. He then moved to ‘no limit’ games playing $5/$10 no-limit and then to higher stakes of $25/$50 but his magic touch was gone, and he ended up losing another $10,000.This caused him to carefully look at his strategy. For the following three months Tom was on a bad run until he received additional funds. At this point ‘Lady Luck’ returned and has been on his side ever since, something no one had expected to happen .He has downplayed this achievements and says there are no words to explain how he managed to rise again so fast.

A few years ago, a magazine published an article on Dwan and his housemate David  Benefield, (nickname Raptors 517). The journalist watched them play in a fast session and witnessed Dwan open 6 tables with a minimum of $100/$200. Within an hour Dwan had won almost $200,000. Broken down this would mean that Tom had won $75 a second, $4,500 a minute. Having just completed his studies this amount of money could have never been earned from a salary or a business. Due to his reputation, poker players avoid playing him online, choosing rather to play opponents whose ability they can match. Dwan admits that there are times that it’s difficult to get someone willing to play.

Tom Dwan, known for making unimaginable plays once called Antonius’s $100,000 bluff with a mere three pair. He went on to say that on most occasions it is all about putting the opponent on a hand range and then making a decision based upon this knowledge. Most of the time he feels that trusting his reads usually ends up in his favor.

Dwan has now added pot limit to his arsenal as he believes his edge to be bigger. Despite being a better no limit player, he considers pot limit players to be inferior.

Upon turning 21, he decided to play the circuit of live poker tournaments. Managing to finish among the best, he has made his presence felt. Tom Dwan finished fourth in the WPT event at Fox Woods, and second in both the pot limit competition at the Aussie Millions Championship and at the WPT Borgata Open.

Those who have had the opportunity to watch Dwan in action say that he is daring and has a rare intelligence, putting him in the league of Poker Legends. Although he may appear to be fierce when engaged in the game, (his eyes always fixed on opponent’s moves) he is described as a nice, sociable guy. Tom is said to fear nothing in regard to gambling as demonstrated in 2007 when during the WSOP he bet $50,000 with his house mate whilst playing a number of high stakes matches, which he then lost. Not believing in natural poker talent he insists that anyone can learn the game, and play well.

He says “I think the natural talent thing is pretty overrated. I think anyone can learn to play poker and do pretty well if they are intelligent and open-minded.”

Those who watch Dwan play say he has the audacity and a raw intelligence resembling that of Phil Ivey. Known for being very nice and easy to get along with, journalist Alun Bowden once witnessed him playing a $2,000 game of rock, paper, scissors with another poker phenomenon, Sorel Mizzi.