Bryan Devonshire News Biography

Every poker player has his or her own BEST STORY EVER to tell. Some are bad beat stories. Others are major win stories. Most of them aren't very entertaining. Bryan Devonshire's, on the other hand, is. It involves a cowboy, a lady of the night and a potential 4-alarm fire. And it's one of our favorites.

"In Cripple Creek, CO, I was working as a prop sitting in seat 3," Devonshire tells us. "In seat 2 was this scruffy, dirty old cowboy or miner dude with a leather hat, perma-scruff, 8 teeth, accent like you'd expect, overalls, the works. In seat 4 was this woman who looked like she stepped out of a brothel. Late ‘30s, huge bust, low cut shirt, slightly overweight, blonde, you get the picture. The cowboy stands up, lights a cigarette with a match, and the head of the match pops off the matchstick, on fire by the way, and heads straight for the lady of the night's chest. Direct hit, right down the chute. If she had spilled any booze her bra probably would have went up in flames. You can imagine the pandemonium. The cowboy didn't seem to give a damn and by the time the floorman returns from wherever the hell he was, she was rubbing ice cubes all over her chest. Needless to say, he ran upstairs to check the cameras in order to get a better view. Who can blame him?"

With over a million bucks in career winnings at the online poker tables and in land-based events since 2006, Devonshire probably has a million other stories like this to tell.

In 2006, Devonshire finished second in a $500 No-Limit Hold'em Casino Employee event for $66,528, third in two Fall Poker Classic events for over $11,000, and first in a Holiday Bonus tournament for $36k.

His success in 2007 continued with more top 10 finishes including a $140,336 payday at the 38th annual WSOP and major success in a variety of online poker tournaments.

2008 proved to be a record year for Devonshire with another 14 top 10 finishes in several online poker tourneys and land-based events, including a second place finish in the World Poker Challenge No-Limit Hold'em Championship event that netted him $271,625.

Bryan Devonshire has achieved great success in 2009 and as a member of Team UB we can all expect even more impressive wins. Want to know more about the rising poker star? Here's his deal in his own words.

What did you do before you became a professional poker player?
I was involved both in the wilderness industry and the ministry. I worked at a Christian camp called Forest Home summers of ‘99, 2000, and 2002. I co-directed the Jr. High ministry at Bel Air Presbyterian Church 2000-2002. I was a whitewater rafting guide off and on from 2000 to 2005 in California and Colorado. I was a full time guide in Colorado in 2003, doing everything from climbing to mountain biking to mountaineering.

So how did you go from that to becoming a professional poker pro?
After that summer of guiding in Colorado, since I spent more time "stirring the blue water" in the porta-poopers and playing lumberjack than actual guiding and got bitter about it, I was fired and had time to play a lot of poker. I eventually stopped looking for a job.

Did you struggle a lot at the beginning or were you a success right away?
A slow growth process I guess. I was always naturally good enough to get myself by but too lazy to really push myself to excel.

When and where did you play your first game of poker?
Dad's home game with the family, somewhere around 13.

Who taught you the tricks of the game?
My grandfather helped shape my poker game. However, as I grew older I played with mostly myself. I really started getting good in MN during 2005 mostly hanging out with players better than I was.

Where and when did you make your first significant cash win? And how much was it for?
Sometime in 2002 I won two tournaments at the Hustler and final tabled another in Santa Barbara the same weekend.

Do you model your game after any other pros – past or present?
I think that we all take a bit from everybody else and that our games are constantly evolving.

What's your favorite tournament and why?
WSOP Main Event ‘cause it doesn't get any better than that.

The growing size of that event concerns some poker players but other poker players love it. What's your take?
How could it be anything but great for the game?

What would you do if you were not a poker professional?
Probably be living in a tent next to a river guiding something.

What style of play do you use at the table?
Whatever style is appropriate at the time.

What top three tips would you give to amateur poker players hoping to make it as a poker professional?
Take your time, progress up the levels naturally. Don't get backed, play your own roll. Game selection!

Do you play more online or in land based casinos?
Probably fifty/fifty.

What do you consider the most significant differences to be between online and brick and mortar play from a strategic point of view?
People suck live. People are good online. They go to the casino to gamble, they play online to win money.

Do you model your game after any other pros – past or present?
I think that we all take a bit from everybody else and that our games are constantly evolving.

What are your hobbies?
I find myself dabbling in a little bit of everything, but I probably spend most of my time traveling, outside, at the lake (or around water), or playing music. I play guitar, piano, mandolin, percussion and I sing.

What is the most important lesson life has taught you?
You can't change the past, you can't do anything about tomorrow until it gets here, do your best today.

What is your greatest achievement?
Still being alive and happy.

How would you like to be remembered?
As somebody who enhanced the lives of those around me in everything I did.

Which famous/non-famous person has left the greatest impression on you?
Jesus.