Philip Sternheimer 🇬🇧

Originally from London, Sternheimer is not your typical “young gun” pro. He played poker for nearly 25 years while maintaining a career outside of the game, only deciding to turn professional around 2023. This lifetime of experience gave him a unique perspective and a love for the “pure” side of poker, specifically mixed games like Stud, Omaha, and Lowball variants. He is known for being a student of the game, famously working with top coaches to sharpen his mental and technical skills. His “emotional” bracelet win in 2025 was a culmination of decades of dedication, proving that it is never too late to reach the absolute top of the sport.

Sternheimer is widely considered a Mixed Game specialist. While many pros focus solely on No Limit Hold’em, Philip thrives in the technical complexity of “8-Game” or “Dealers Choice” formats where the rules change every few hands. His strategy is built on a deep mathematical understanding of shifting equities and a calm, disciplined approach to high-pressure situations. He is often seen competing at the PokerGO Studio in Las Vegas, where he has earned a reputation as a player who rarely makes mistakes in the rare game formats. His ability to switch gears between different poker disciplines makes him one of the most well-rounded and dangerous players in any high-stakes field.

With total live tournament earnings of over $6.2 million (according to The Hendon Mob), Sternheimer is a consistent winner in the world’s most expensive games. His crowning achievement came in 2025 at the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas, where he won his first gold bracelet in the $10,000 Pot Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship for a career best $763,087. Sternheimer has also been a standout performer in the prestigious Triton Poker Series and WSOP Paradise. In late 2025, he secured a massive $760,000 for finishing 5th in the $100,000 PLO Main Event in the Bahamas. He followed that up just days later by taking 14th in the $250,000 Triton Invitational for another $515,000. Showing his versatility, he also earned $216,000 for a 3rd-place finish in the 2026 PGT Mixed Games $25,000 Championship. Philip Sternheimer (photo credit: PokerNews photographer Regina Cortina)