Brandon Cantu Biography

No matter who you are or what you do, chances are there exists one defining moment that has changed the course of your life forever. For some, it's choosing one job over another. For others, it's choosing one girl over another.

For Brandon Cantu, that moment happened on June 29th, 2006 in a little Nevada town called Las Vegas.

Cantu had dropped $1,500 to play in Event #2 of the 37th annual World Series of Poker just two days earlier and found himself at the final table of a No Limit Hold'em event with a $3,789,240 prize pool.

Shortly before 5:30pm local time on that brutally hot desert day, just two players remained – Mark Ly and Brandon Cantu. After a crippling hand that left Ly with barely a handful of chips, Ly was forced all in for what would become the final deal, a flop, turn and river that would ultimately change Cantu's life forever.

Ly's 10c/2s was no match for Cantu's Qs/5h. The board left Cantu with two pair and $757,839 for first place. It also left Cantu with a shiny piece of jewelry that's coveted by every player who's ever heard the words ‘shuffle up and deal' uttered at a table in Las Vegas.

His first WSOP bracelet (not to mention a $750k win) solidified Cantu's decision to become a professional poker player. And it turns out it was one of the best decisions he's ever made.

Later that same year, Cantu took first place in an Ultimate Poker Challenge event and since then he's collected well over a dozen top 10 finishes in a number of major online poker tournaments and land-based events, including a 9th place finish at the 2009 Five-Star World Poker Classic in April, a 5th place finish in the 2008 Five Diamond World Poker Classic in December 2008, and a 6th place finish in a 2008 WPT Championship event.

At the 2009 World Series of Poker, Cantu earned his second career bracelet in Event #48, a $1,500 Pot Limit Omaha 8 or Better event, besting a field of 762 players for $228,867.

That win came just days after an impressive second place finish in Event #39, a $1,500 No Limit Hold'em event that featured 2,715 players. Cantu earned $403,951 for that near-win.

To find out more about this great poker success story, eavesdrop on our quick chat with Brandon Cantu below.

How did you become a professional poker pro?
I played in local casinos in Oregon before winning 2006 WSOP Bracelet. I turned professional at that moment.

What did you do before you became a professional poker player?
Real Estate investments.

Did you struggle a lot at the beginning or were you a success right away?
I won the first major live event I ever played, fortunately!

Who taught you the tricks of the game?
My grandfather helped shape my poker game. However, as I grew older I played with friends and shaped my game through repetitious sessions. I am completely self-taught. No books, no training sites.

What are your thoughts on the growing size of the WSOP Main Event?
I believe that expansion of both numbers and interest surrounding the game of poker can never be a bad thing.

How do you relax generally, as well as before and after a poker game?
Relaxing poolside at home or watching SportsCenter.

What style of play do you use at the table?
Aggressive.

Are you a better cash game player or tournament?
Tournament, but my cash game is turning the corner and on the rise.

Do you play more online or in land-based casinos?
I definitely play more at land-based casinos. However, I'm starting to work on my online game more and more. I will be spending many hours per month playing at UltimateBet.com.

If you had the opportunity to play poker against five famous people, who would they be and why?
John Elway – All-Time sports idol
Brandon Roy (Portland Trailblazers) – Favorite athlete
Phil Hellmuth – I'd love to win pot after pot off of him and watch him go crazy!