Any poker professional worth their salt can’t wait for the New Year to begin. A level balance sheet in front of them, all the major tournaments yet to take and 12 months of potential profit lie ahead. Matt Vengrin is a poker professional with two decades of experience and he’s looking forward to the biggest year of his poker life.
With tournament variance right around the corner too, at some point, Matt – and millions of others at the felt – will be down to 15 big blinds and put to the ultimate test. Shove or fold, push all-in or give up. Our 15 Bigs are designed to test him in exactly the same way. Will Matt push or fold when we put the ultimate posers his way?
Let’s find out!
You’re on a long-haul flight and can only choose one TV Show or Movie to watch on repeat, which is your pick?
Star Trek First Contact.
If you were stranded on a desert island with one book for company, what would it be?
How to Survive on a Deserted Island by Tim O’Shei.
What’s the song you could listen to on repeat forever?
Can’t pick. Either Guns N’ Roses November Rain or Before I Go by Guy Sebastian.
What’s your favourite place to play poker and why?
Aruba – I hope GGPoker or someone brings back that stop and gets it big again.
If you were to be shot at dawn, what would be your last meal and drink?
Chicken Caesar Salad and Martinelli’s apple cider.
Where’s your favourite non-poker holiday destination?
Somewhere on the beach with big waves outside to surf – Mexico is the best I’ve found so far.
You can play poker every day for a year or play no poker for a whole 12 months – which do you choose?
Play every day.
Who is the person you don’t have around anymore that you miss the most?
Howard Schultz. Guy taught me a lot about life and made me a better poker player.
Which person would you most like to meet but never have?
Dana White. Come on Dana, we both live in Vegas let me take you out for a meal.
When’s the last time life put you on tilt?
A few days ago when my neighbor’s dog woke me up at 5am.
If you couldn’t play the WSOP Main Event next year, which family member would you put into the action in your place?
Probably my dad. I remember I got to play one poker hand when I was nine years old in his poker game. I somehow won the hand. I still suspect it was rigged in my favor but can’t prove it.
What’s your best poker skill?
My reading ability.
And your biggest leak?
Not being as young or full of energy as I once was.
If you could make one rule change to poker, what would it be?
The ‘Savage Average’ in every tournament [the new poker format pioneered by the WPT tournament director which features blinds that increase based on the average number of chips in play, rather than according to a forced schedule]. It’s silly when all the money is on the line we are forced to flip coins. For those that don’t know it keeps the tournament average chips at a certain big blind or big bet average which doesn’t change throughout tournament.
You have just ten seconds with the person of your dreams… what do you say?
I’d ask for more time. 10 seconds is far too short!
Matt’s all-in for 2025 and is clearly on point when it comes to firing back at some tough questions. He nailed all the personal posers and even the quizzical questions didn’t phase him.
Will Matt have his most successful year in 2025? You can read more about Matt Vengrin’s 20 years in poker and his ambitions in the game with our deep dive into what makes him tick here.
