Dennis Phillips (poker player)


Dennis N. Phillips is a professional poker player from St. Louis, Missouri. Phillips qualified for the 2008 World Series of Poker Main Event through a $200 satellite tournament at Harrah's St. Louis, his local Harrah's casino. He entered the final table as chip leader with 26,295,000 in chips, and finished in third place, earning $4,517,773.
In his final hand, chip leader Peter Eastgate, with more than 62 million in chips, raised Phillips in the big blind 1.5 million in chips, Phillips called and the flop brought. Eastgate, first to act, bet 1.5 million in chips, Phillips then raised the rest of his 14.4 million, all-in, and was called instantly by Eastgate, holding for a set of 3s to Phillips. Phillips did not get the running straight cards necessary to win the hand, eliminating him in third place.
In the 2009 World Series of Poker, Phillips followed his third-place finish by finishing 45th, earning $178,857. Phillips also took third place in the 2010 NBC National Heads-Up Championship in Las Vegas for $125,000.
Dennis has also had two top 10 finishes in the WSOP Senior Event. In 2012, he finished second, earning $372,895. In 2014, he finished fifth, earning $153,883. These finishes make Phillips one of the few, if not the only, poker player to have three top 10 finishes and a fourth deep finish in tournaments with more than 4,000 entrants.
As of 2019, his total live tournament winnings exceed $6,000,000 and currently placed at 100th on the United States all time money list.