Updated on 22 Feb 26 by
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Sam Holden: $782k Ain't Bad for a Jobless Graduate

In this new mini-series, we preview the upcoming November Nine final table by profiling all the players. First up is the table's short stack, 22-year-old Brit Sam Holden.

Sam Holden: Seat 6, 12,375,000 in chips

phil hellmuth
Sam Holden in deep thought

With his long frizzy hair and rugged complexion, you'd forgive Sam Holden for still being the student that spent three years studying forensic science at the University of Kent.

Like many 22-year-old graduates in Britain, Holden has struggled to find employment in the tough economic climate. But Holden, rather crudely dubbed "The Jobless Graduate" by The Sun tabloid paper, is already guaranteed a cool $782k for his efforts. Holden can kiss beans on toast goodbye.

Holden's story is even more remarkable given the fact he only started playing poker in the summer of 2010. Calling on his college knowledge of maths and statistics, along with information from online strategy articles, Holden made his first big score in the Sunday Million, coming 5th for over $50k.

There would be no conservative bankroll management - Holden immediately set aside $10k for the WSOP Main Event.

Like many parents, Holden's mother and father were apprehensive about their son embarking on a professional poker career. It had been Sam's late grandmother who had first introduced him to cards through bridge.

Holden envisages himself travelling the professional tournament circuit for the next few years, before using the skills he picked up at university to go into crime scene investigation.

"I've still got 24 big blinds at the final table"

After testing the waters in a few side events, Holden edged his way to the final table of the Main Event, spending Days 6 and 7 as a short stack. Despite his short stack status, Holden insists his situation isn't too precarious, "Having an online background I'm used to having a 25-30 big blind stack. I've still got 24 big blinds at the final table. There's some room there and I'm definitely not heading out to Vegas to just stick it in on the first hand".

Unsurprisingly, Holden has spent the four month hiatus studying ESPN footage of his opponents, and honing his skills by playing the WPT Paris and EPT London. Having made just two small cashes in UKIPT events, Holden's live poker success is minimal, but his $285k in online earnings are not to be sneered at. 888 Poker clearly see enough potential in Holden to award him a professional sponsorship.

All in all, Holden comes across as a well-grounded character, and his survival skills could easily secure him a 6th or 7th place finish. To come from behind and win, however, is a major ask.

All November Niners and their stories:

  • Sam Holden
  • Anton Makievskyi
  • Pius Heinz
  • Badih Bounahra
  • Ben Lamb
  • Phil Collins
  • Matt Giannetti
  • Eoghan O'Dea
  • Martin Staszko