Matt Berkey

Berkey grew up in Leechburg, Pennsylvania with two siblings and aspired to be a baseball player. His parents struggled financially and were separated. His family received help from his grandparents. By the age of 13 Berkey moved in with his grandparents who pushed him in the right direction. In his youth, Berkey earned the nickname Eeyore, the donkey from Winnie the Pooh.{{Cite web|author=Yuhl, Kim|date=February 20, 2018|title=From Donkey To Dead Money: PA Pro Matt Berkey's Poker Journey|url=https://www.playpennsylvania.com/matt-berkey-online-poker-pennsylvania/|work=Play Pennsylvania|accessdate=March 9, 2018}}

Originally, Matt Berkey wanted to become a professional baseball player. He even had a chance to take baseball scholarships from colleges, but he turned those opportunities down because of the distance from his hometown.

Berkey attended Gannon University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science with a minor in Mathematics.{{Cite web|author=|title=MATT BERKEY|url=http://www.wsop.com/players/profile/?playerid=13265|work=WSOP|accessdate=March 9, 2018}} While he started playing poker in high school, playing against friends for quarters, it was college where he decided to take the game more seriously. His newfound passion was a product of the Moneymaker Boom.

He went to his closest Indian Casino where he started to grind live cash games, and after graduating from college, Berkey chose his poker career over baseball.{{Cite web|title=Matt Berkey's Life: Net Worth, Biggest Profits, Losses and Private Life|url=http://somuchpoker.com/matt-berkeys-life-net-worth-biggest-profits-losses-and-private-life/}}

Berkey plays online under the nickname berkey11. Berkey finished 43rd in the 2010 World Series of Poker main event.{{Cite web |title=41st World Series of Poker - WSOP 2010, World Championship - No Limit Hold'em |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=40145 |access-date=2024-04-02 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}}

In 2013, Berkey finished 3rd in the $3,000 No-Limit Hold'em Six Handed event for $199,733.{{Cite web |title=44th World Series of Poker - WSOP 2013, No Limit Hold'em - 6 Handed (Event #21) |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=80491 |access-date=2024-04-02 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}} Berkey won the 2015 $25,000 No Limit Hold'em High Roller event at the Aria Casino in December 2015 earning $315,180.{{Cite web |title=Aria High Roller 20, No Limit Hold'em - High Roller |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=348937 |access-date=2024-04-02 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}}

In May 2016, Berkey finished 5th in the $300,000 Super High Roller Bowl earning $1,100,000.{{Cite web |date=November 27, 2017 |title=Poker Stories Podcast: Matt Berkey Shares Details About Big Game, $1.6 Million Session |url=https://www.cardplayer.com/poker-news/22263-poker-stories-podcast-matt-berkey-shares-details-about-big-game-1-6-million-session |access-date=March 9, 2018 |website=Card Player}}

In 2017, Berkey was regularly seen playing live televised cash games. He finished 5th in 2017 World Series of Poker $1,500 Six-Max No-Limit Hold'em earning $87,141.{{Cite web| title = Anthony Marquez Wins 2017 World Series of Poker $1,500 Six-Max No-Limit Hold'em| author = Fast, Erik| work = cardplayer.com| date = June 10, 2017| accessdate = March 9, 2018| url = https://www.cardplayer.com/poker-news/21741-anthony-marquez-wins-2017-world-series-of-poker-1-500-six-max-no-limit-hold-em}} Berkey started his own poker academy called Solve For Why. The academy intends on hosting a charity event in March 2018.{{Cite web| title = Somerville & Solve for Why Host Heads Up Charity Shootout on Twitch| author = Cross, Valerie| work = PokerNews| date = March 9, 2018| accessdate = March 9, 2018| url = https://www.pokernews.com/news/2018/03/somerville-solve-for-why-heads-up-charity-shootout-twitch-30195.htm}} Berkey appeared on Poker After Dark in November 2017 where he lost a $459,000 pot to poker player Garrett Adelstein while holding {{cards|Ks|Kh}} against Adelstein's {{cards|As|Ac}}. The board came {{cards|7h|Kd|5s|Ah|6c}} giving both players a set. Both players went all in on the river.{{Cite web| title = Brutal Coolers and Big King-High Calls on 'Poker After Dark'| author = Harris, Martin| work = PokerNews| date = November 22, 2017| accessdate = March 9, 2018| url = https://www.pokernews.com/strategy/brutal-coolers-and-big-king-high-calls-on-poker-after-dark-29396.htm}}

As of 2022, Berkey's total live tournament earnings exceed $4,300,000.{{Cite web |title=Matt Berkey's profile on The Hendon Mob |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=r&n=59644 |access-date=2024-04-02 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}}

In 2023, Matt Berkey beat high-stakes regular NikAirball for $1,029,700 in a heads-up grudge match. The match was held at Resorts World Las Vegas.

Matt Berkey is the founder of "Solve For Why", a Poker Academy. In 2021 , with Tom Wheton, he announced the creation of "Above The Felt entertainment", a marketing agency for poker, in collaboration with Daren Elias, Chris Moneymaker, & Jamie Kerstetter.{{Cite web |last=Jaudon |first=Gaelle |date=June 1, 2021 |title=Interview with Poker Pro and Solve For Why Founder Matt Berkey |url=http://somuchpoker.com/matt-berkey-interview/ |access-date=2024-04-02 |website=So Much Poker}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.cardplayer.com/poker-players/36647-matt-berkey Card Player profile]
• [http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=r&n=59644 Hendon Mob profile]
• [https://www.pokernews.com/poker-players/matt-berkey/ PokerNews profile]
• [https://www.worldpokertour.com/player/matt-berkey/ WPT profile]
• [https://www.wsop.com/players/profile/?playerid=13265 WSOP profile]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Berkey, Matthew}}

Category:American poker players

Category:Living people

Category:1982 births