The World Series of Poker has always been a stage where the game's best players can show what they can do. Winning a WSOP bracelet is poker's ultimate achievement. It's a symbol that a player has conquered one of the toughest tests in the game. For years, those bracelets were pretty much only won at live events in Vegas, and the winners were usually seasoned pros.
But the digital era has changed everything. The launch of WSOP Online has given a new generation of players a chance to shine. These players have won some of the most prestigious poker prizes by playing from home, qualifying through online satellites and building their reputations in virtual arenas. The rise of online events has changed who's winning and brought new attention to platforms that help players get ahead. For example, many ambitious grinders turn to CoinPoker promo codes to maximize their bankrolls and take their shot in major online series.
In this feature, we're going to take a look at some of the standout WSOP Online winners from recent years, ranked from oldest to youngest. Their stories show how online poker has changed the face of poker greatness.
Kristen Foxen (33) – A Dominant Female Force in Online Poker
Kristen Foxen has always been seen as one of the best female players in the game, and her achievements online have only made that reputation stronger. Foxen, born in 1986, won her third bracelet at the 2020 WSOP Online. She took home the prize in the $2,500 6-Handed No-Limit Hold'em event when she was 33. She outlasted a stacked final table and walked away with $356,412.
Foxen's success isn't just about the results. She's a two-time Global Poker Index Female Player of the Year, and she's been a really visible and inspiring advocate for women in poker. Her wins show that the pros can adapt to the online environment and stay on top, and they also show how important diversity is in the game's highest ranks.
Daniel Dvoress (32) – High-Stakes Crusher Captures the Millionaire Maker
Canadian pro Daniel Dvoress knows a thing or two about nosebleed action. He's built his career in some of the toughest high-roller tournaments around the world. But he hadn't won a WSOP bracelet until 2020. That changed when he won the WSOP Online "Millionaire Maker" at 32, winning a huge $1,489,289 top prize.
For Dvoress, the win was about more than just the money. It showed that even the most experienced live high-stakes players can have new firsts in the online arena. His ability to switch from super-high-roller live events to a massive online field and come out on top shows just how adaptable today's elite players have to be.
Yuri Dzivielevski (31) – PLO Mastermind and Bracelet Collector
Brazil's Yuri Dzivielevski has become one of the most feared names in both live and online poker. By the time he was 31, he had already won a bunch of bracelets, including the 2023 WSOP Online $10,000 PLO Championship. His win there was another step in an incredible run that would make him the youngest member of the five-bracelet club at just 32.
Dzivielevski is known as a mixed-game specialist and one of the best coaches around. His success shows that young players willing to master variants beyond No-Limit Hold'em can carve out unique legacies. In a game where technical mastery and versatility are so important, his rise is a clear example of how it's good to expand your poker skills.
Melika Razavi (31) – Magician, Speaker, and Champion
Melika Razavi's path to poker success is pretty unique. Born in Iran and raised in Norway, Razavi built her career not just as a poker player but also as a magician and motivational speaker. At 31, she won the 2020 WSOP Online Event #82, a $1,050 Beat the Pros Bounty tournament. She beat 1,363 players to win her first bracelet and $239,180.
Her story is particularly inspiring because she overcame cultural barriers to compete in an industry where women, and especially women from conservative backgrounds, face unique challenges. Razavi's win was a big deal, and not just for him. It was a statement about the global and inclusive future of online poker.
Stoyan Madanzhiev (29) – Champion of the First Online Main Event
Back in 2020, the WSOP Main Event went online for the first time, making history. That year, Bulgarian pro Stoyan Madanzhiev won the championship, taking home a cool $3.9 million at the age of 29. He beat out a field of more than 5,800 competitors in what was then the biggest online poker tournament ever.
Madanzhiev's win also got people talking. So, should we think of the online Main Event champion as the "world champion" of poker? No matter what the answer is, his story shows how online poker can level the playing field. It's proof that even a player not on most people's radars can go from playing online tournaments to hitting the multi-millionaire jackpot in a flash.
Fedor Holz (27) – High-Stakes Prodigy
Fedor Holz, a German star, is often called one of the best tournament players of his generation. By 27, he was already crushing it in live high-roller circuits, but his 2020 WSOP Online win just added another layer to his legend. Holz won the $25,000 Heads-Up Championship, earning his second bracelet.
What made this victory special was the field he had to overcome. Heads-up tournaments are brutal, and this one featured some of the smartest people in the business. Holz's win showed off his technical skills and how easily the best young live players can adapt their skills to the online battlefield.
Adrian Mateos (≈31) – The Youngest to Five Bracelets
Adrian Mateos, a Spanish prodigy, has been breaking records ever since he burst onto the scene as a teenager. By 22, he had already become the youngest player ever to win three WSOP bracelets. In 2025, just before turning 31, Mateos added his fifth when he won a $3,200 High Roller in a hybrid WSOP Online/Live format.
Mateos's story shows how starting young can pay off. Growing up with access to WSOP Europe events from the age of 18 gave him experience that most players could only dream of. He was able to combine online play with his tournament successes, and he quickly became one of the most accomplished tournament players of his era.
Ian Matakis (25) – Bankroll Builder to Player of the Year
Ian Matakis burst onto the scene as one of poker's rising stars in 2023. At only 25, he won his first bracelet in the WSOP Online $500 NLH Bankroll Builder event. But that wasn't all. Matakis was on a roll, and he finished as the 2023 WSOP Player of the Year.
He's been doing a great job balancing online events with live tournaments, and he's shown that a big online performance can lead to something even bigger. His rise showed how the online stage is where poker's next big names are made.
Yinan Zhou (24) – Bluffing His Way to $6 Million
There aren't many moments in poker that get people's attention like a bold bluff on the biggest stage. In 2024, 24-year-old Yinan Zhou of China made a bold move in the WSOP Paradise $25K Super Main Event, going head-to-head with top pro Michael Addamo. Zhou took the title and a jaw-dropping $6 million first prize.
Zhou's got a solid background, and he's totally dedicated and inspiring. He based his game on Justin Bonomo's, grinding online until he had the bankroll and skills to challenge the very best. His win was a huge deal for Asian poker, showing that young players from new regions can make it big fast with the right online opportunities.
Ethan “Rampage” Yau (≈22) – Vlogging His Way to a Bracelet
Ethan Yau, or "Rampage" as he's known on YouTube, is a new kind of poker star. At around 22, he won the 2020 WSOP Online Event #26, the $500 NLH Grand Finale, for $164,000. Yau is a bit different from a lot of other winners. He brought a massive audience along for the ride by live-streaming and vlogging his deep run.
His bracelet win went viral, introducing thousands of new fans to the WSOP Online. For Yau, it was a big personal breakthrough and proof that streaming and social media are changing the way poker is played and celebrated. He showed that poker success today isn't just about the cards, but also about how players connect with audiences.
What These Young Champions Mean for iGaming
The stories of Foxen, Dvoress, Dzivielevski, Razavi, Madanzhiev, Holz, Mateos, Matakis, Zhou, and Yau show that the future of poker is younger, more global, and more diverse than ever before.
The fact that online events are so easy to access has lowered the traditional barriers to entry. Smaller buy-ins, online qualifiers, and the ability to compete from anywhere in the world are giving players the chance to shine earlier in their careers. Women, players from non-traditional regions, and content creators are increasingly represented among the winners.
This change is a huge opportunity for the iGaming industry. Hybrid live and online tournaments, partnerships with streamers, and creative engagement strategies can bring in a new generation of poker fans. As the WSOP and other major series add more online tournaments, we can expect to see more young champions rise up and forge their own legends on the digital felt.
Conclusion
Online poker has changed what it means to be a WSOP champion. Players are getting younger, more diverse, and more creative in how they build their reputations. From Foxen's steady success to Yau's huge streaming wins, these champions show that there are many ways to be a poker legend these days.
With WSOP Online growing, the stage is set for even more young stars to make history, and for platforms like VIP-Grinders to remain essential in guiding poker enthusiasts toward opportunities, bonuses, and the next wave of success.
