From Hockey Rink to Poker Table: Greg Mueller's WSOP Journey

Greg Mueller, a former professional hockey player, recently made headlines at the World Series of Poker (WSOP) main event, finishing in third place and earning $3.75 million. Mueller's journey to this pinnacle moment in his poker career is as remarkable as the support he received from his fans.

Mueller's supporters, affectionately known as his 'rail,' included over 100 people who traveled to Las Vegas to cheer him on. These supporters wore the same hat and shirt featuring Mueller's picture, creating a boisterous and unmistakable presence at the Horseshoe Casino. The chants of “FBT!”—an initialism for his ironic nickname, ‘Full-Blown Tilt’—echoed through the casino, providing Mueller with a constant source of encouragement and adrenaline.

Mueller's poker career began during his time as a professional hockey player in Germany. He played in the German league for eight years, including a notable spot in the Spengler Cup in 1992. His love for poker started during his hockey travels, where he would often find himself at the poker table instead of unpacking his bags. This lifelong interest in poker eventually led to a lucrative career, with Mueller now boasting $7.3 million in live tournament winnings. His first major poker score came in 2006 when he took fourth in the WPT World Poker Challenge for $142,285. Since then, Mueller has won three bracelets at the WSOP, with his most recent win in the $10,000 H.O.R.S.E. event in 2019.