Epic Poker League Champions Page

David "Chino" Rheem won Epic Poker’s inaugural event, the 6-Max, in August 2011, earning first prize of $1 million. Rheem, a Los Angeles native, learned poker in Florida when he became close friends with the Michael and Robert Mizrachi and their family. He made the first World Series of Poker November Nine in 2008 and finished seventh, earning over $1.7 million. A month later, he won his first major title, the World Poker Tour’s Doyle Brunson Five Diamond Poker Classic, worth another $1.5 million. Through 2011, David has earned over $5.7 million. At the 6-Max in August, his super-aggressive style bolstered his chip position in the final days of play, yet he showed the flexibility to rebound from a gigantic failed bluff against Erik Seidel at the final table to defeat the legendary Seidel heads-up for the Championship.

"Chino" Rheem biography
"Chino" Rheem photos
"Chino" Rheem videos

6-Max Main Event Recap
6-Max Main Event Final Table Recap

Champion's Video



Champion's Photos

Mike McDonald won Epic Poker’s second event, the 8-Max, in September 2011, earning $782,410. McDonald, a resident of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, is the League’s youngest player, earning the Championship two days before his 22nd birthday. He became, while still in high school, one of the world’s most skilled and respected high-stakes online poker players. Although he couldn’t legally play poker in most American casinos until 2011, he became the poker’s youngest major titleholder at 18 years and 5 months when he won the European Poker Tour’s German Open in February 2009 and over $1.3 million. Through 2011, Mike has earned over $4 million. At the 8-Max in September, he showed tremendous skill, patience, and poise, rebounding from some tough beats and a short stack to prevail over a veteran, international final table including Isaac Baron, Nam Le, Erik Seidel, Fabrice Soulier, and David Steicke.

Mike McDonald biography
Mike McDonald photos
Mike McDonald videos

8-Max Main Event Recap
8-Max Main Event Final Table Recap

Champion's Video



Champion's Photos

Chris Klodnicki won Epic Poker’s third event, the Mix-Max, in December 2011, earning $801,680. Klodnicki, from Vorhees, New Jersey, graduated from Lehigh University and 2007 and, instead of beginning a career in business, received his training in Atlantic City casinos. In 2008, he finished runner-up in Razz at the World Series of Poker and completed his Series by finishing 12th in the Main Event, earning over $591,000. He subsequently won a pair of big events in Atlantic City, including a World Series of Poker Circuit Main Event. (He finished runner-up in the same event a year later. Klodnicki’s career earnings through 2011 exceed $2.8 million. At the Mix-Max event, he expertly maneuvered as play became shorter handed, and took full advantage of his chip lead going into heads-up play against Andrew Lichtenberger, demonstrating in over five hours of heads-up action how to play with the lead.

Chris Klodnicki biography
Chris Klodnicki photos
Chris Klodnicki videos

Mix-Max Main Event Final Table Recap

Champion's Video


Champion's Photos