US Poker Championship (USPC)

The US Poker Championship (USPC, United States Poker Championship) is one of the major poker tournaments within the United States next to the World Series of Poker. The event is held annually in Atlantic City, New Jersey at the Trump Taj Mahal during the fall of each year since 1996. Similar to the WSOP, the United States Poker Championship runs a series of tournaments leading up to the Main Event which during the 2009 series drew in a field of 154 players. Most of the USPC finales had a $10,000 buy in, however the 2009 series was cut in half to $5,000 for entry.

The US Poker Championship is a pinnacle event for any professional player and often attracts the best of the best, including Phil Hellmuth, and Daniel Negreanu who won the 1999 Main Event. Men Nguyen is also a frequent player in the USPC and won the 2001 Main Event as well as holds a record for highest number of final table finishes in the US Poker Championship Main Event.

2009 US Poker Championship

The 2009 US Poker Championship Main Event concluded on November 25 with William Brindise holding the 2009 title after defeating Men “the Master” Nguyen in heads-up. William earned himself the title along with the $261,800 first place finish. The 2009 event attracted 154 players with a prize pool of $770,000. The final table will air on both ESPN and Spike TV early in 2010 and will spread across two episodes.

2009 US Poker Championship - Final Table Standings


  • 1st - William Brindise - $261,800
  • 2nd - Men Nguyen -  $138,600
  • 3rd - Eric Ladny - $77,000
  • 4th- Gordon Eng - $53,900
  • 5th - Brian Lemke - $46,200
  • 6th - Nick Binger - $30,800
  • 7th - Anton Smolyanskiy - $23,100

US Poker Championship Main Event Winners Previous Years


  • 2009 USPC Main Event Winner - William Brindise - $261,800
  • 2008 USPC Main Event Winner – Robert Ford - $221,936
  • 2007 USPC Main Event Winner - Adam Gerber - $606,095
  • 2006 USPC Main Event Winner – Alex Jacob - $878,500
  • 2005 USPC Main Event Winner - James Caporuscio - $831,532
  • 2004 USPC Main Event Winner - John Aglialoro - $691,096
  • 2003 USPC Main Event Winner - Toto Leonidas - $388,080
  • 2002 USPC Main Event Winner - John Hennigan - $216,000
  • 2001 USPC Main Event Winner - Men Nguyen - $228,000
  • 2000 USPC Main Event Winner - G. Richard Tatalovich - $318,000
  • 1999 USPC Main Event Winner - Daniel Negreanu - $210,000
  • 1998 USPC Main Event Winner - Ray Lamoureaux - $148,000
  • 1996 USPC Main Event Winner - Ken Flaton - $500,000