Brad Booth returns to the WSOP Main Event after more than a decade

Canadian poker legend Brad Booth returns to the WSOP Main Event after more than a decade. A prominent figure during poker's golden age, he returns with a fresh mindset.

After more than a decade, Brad Booth is making his first return to the World Series of Poker Main Event.

This Canadian, nicknamed "Yukon Brad," was one of the most iconic players of the poker boom. From playing against Bobby's Room to pulling off one of the most memorable bluffs in history against Phil Ivey on "High Stakes Poker," Booth has never been out of the spotlight.

Booth believes his last appearance in the Main Event was around 2012. After years away from the WSOP and experiencing a well-known high-stakes fall, he returned to poker's biggest tournament with a completely different mindset.

“It’s been a while,” Booth told PokerNews. “Definitely more than ten years. I spent a short time in the woods.”

Entering the prize money circle means much more than just money.

While many players dream of turning their Main Event journey into a multi-million dollar prize, Booth had something else on his mind.

Entering the money line would be his first recorded live tournament winnings since 2013, and his first money win in the Main Event. But more importantly, it would help him continue to fulfill his promises to those he has wronged in the past.

"Oh, winning in the main event means a lot to me, but it means a lot to other people too," Booth said.

"I'm currently in a situation where money comes in from one pocket and goes out from another, which I completely accept. This gives me some motivation to make up for some of the mistakes I've made in the past."

Last year, in an interview with Connor Richards on PokerNews' "Life Outside Poker," Booth candidly discussed the gambling addiction and financial problems that had taken his career off track. He explained how he rebuilt his life in Oregon, playing low-stakes cash games and regularly making benevolent repayments to creditors of long-term debts within the poker community.

A year later, he said the process was still ongoing.

“It feels great,” Booth said. “Of course, it’s just a small payment right now, but when someone is in my situation, communication and goodwill are the only things that can be offered.”

Last-minute seats

Earlier that day, Booth posted on social media that he hoped to find a way to participate. A few hours later, it all came true.

"I was kind of testing the waters," Booth explained. "Some people messaged me saying they wanted to invest."

"Then this morning I suddenly woke up and a friend said to me, 'Brad, I'm going to make sure you get into this game.' That's how it happened."

Booth entered the tournament during Day 2, ABC, and after two levels of the tournament, he had approximately 55,000 chips from a starting stack of 60,000.

Booth is happy to return

Tournament poker may not have been Booth’s forte during his peak years at high stakes, but he says the transition from cash games felt natural.

"Tournaments may seem a bit softer, but this is tournament poker, and you don't get a rebuy opportunity."

However, most importantly, Booth simply enjoyed the feeling of returning.

“This is so exciting,” he said. “It’s not necessarily about me playing poker. It’s about where I’ve been and where I am now. It’s great. It’s nice to be here.”

Booth now lives in Oregon and spends most of his time playing low-stakes cash games.

"I'm proud of the friends I have," he said. "Oregon has been very good to me. I look forward to going home, but I'm also happy to be here."

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