Kai Cocklin is a poker journalist and live reporting manager who has worked with PokerNews at major festivals including the World Series of Poker and the European Poker Tour. He has managed multiple live reporting teams at the World Series of Poker and trained individual reporters to develop their skills. He now oversees Somuchpoker’s editorial and live coverage, ensuring consistent quality and engaging content across the Asian poker scene.

Updated: 2025.12.19

Bernhard Binder is an Austrian professional poker player who made history on December 18, 2025, by winning the largest prize pool in the history of the Bahamas. Known as a rising star in the “Austrian School” of high-stakes poker, Binder is now a household name after capturing one of the most prestigious titles in the sport.

Career Earnings & Biggest Results

With over $10,328,636 in total live tournament earnings, according to The Hendon Mob, Bernhard Binder has catapulted into the elite ranks of the poker world. Before his massive 2025 breakout, he was a respected mid-stakes grinder with roughly $328,000 in cashes.

His career was redefined by a single, monumental victory:

$10,000,000 – 1st place in the $25,000 WSOP Paradise Super Main Event (December 2025).

In a record-breaking field of 2,891 entries, Binder navigated a prize pool of $72,275,000, the largest ever for a tournament outside of the Las Vegas Main Event. Entering the final table second in chips, he eventually defeated French veteran Jean Noel Thorel heads-up to secure the gold bracelet and the eight-figure top prize.

Other significant career results include:

$1,832,484 – 1st place in the $10,300 GGMillion$ Main Event (Online, February 2025).
$64,500 – 24th place in the $25,000 World Poker Tour (WPT) Global Slam at Triton Jeju II (September 2025).
~$34,920 – 18th place in the €10,300 European Poker Tour (EPT) Malta High Roller (October 2025).

Biography & Poker Background

Originally from and residing in Vienna, Austria, Bernhard Binder is part of a dominant wave of young Austrian talent mentored and recognized by pros like Mario Mosbock. Remarkably, Binder has only been playing poker for approximately three years, a meteoric rise that Mosbock described as “insane” and “incredible.”

Prior to his 2025 dominance, Binder was primarily known in high-stakes circles as a “sharp guy” and a “fast learner” who was “printing” (winning consistently) in elite online games before successfully transitioning to the live arena.

Play Style & Strategy

Binder is characterized by a modern, GTO-influenced (Game Theory Optimal) strategy combined with immense mental composure.

The Big Game Hunter: He specializes in high-buy-in, large-field events where navigating massive variance is required. His win in the $25,000 Super Main Event showcased his ability to maintain focus over a grueling multi-day schedule against 2,800+ opponents.
Heads-Up Clinicality: In his two major titles of 2025 (WSOP Paradise and GGMillion$), he demonstrated a dominant heads-up game, defeating world-class veterans like Martin Finger and Jean Noel Thorel.
Statistical Edge: During his Super Main Event run, he was noted for his technical precision, eventually winning the final hand with ace-eight. His victory was predicted months in advance by fellow pros, who cited his rapid growth and technical depth as “the best in the game at the moment”.

Recent Attendances