Berry Johnston, 1986 WSOP Main Event Champ

Very little is know about Berry Johnston’s early life and he didn’t start playing professional poker until he was 35 years old.  Born in Oklahoma in 1935, Berry Johnston won the WSOP Main Event in 1986 taking home $570,000.

In 1982, Berry Johnston finished third in the $10,000 Championship Event at the World Series and has an amazing history in the event. The next year, Berry captured the first of what would eventually become five WSOP bracelets. When he became the World Champion in 1986, it was at a final table that included Gary “Bones” Berland and Jesse Alto. Johnston also was at the final table for a third time in 1990.

Johnston has made at least 26 final tables and has finished in the money at least 54 times.  He has also cashed 10 times in the WSOP Main Event, more than any other player.  His most recent cash in the Main Event came in 2007 when he finished in 113th place in a field of over six thousand players, winning $58,570.

In 2008 Johnston cashed three times including placing 10th in an Omaha H/L event and he is currently #42 on the WSOP all time money list.  He is ranked 4th for the WSOP all-time cashes list with 57 cashes (at the end of 2009).  Johnston is considered a poker ‘original’ playing with great poker players such as Doyle Brunson, Jesse Alto and Chip Reese, and is still competing at the high levels of poker today. His total live tournament winnings exceed $3,450,000.  His cashes at the WSOP alone account for $2,075,527 of that total.

Berry Johnston is very much a gentleman at the tables, taking the good as well as the bad with the same demeanor and always offers “good luck” to the table upon his knockout. He is a devoutly religious man, which perhaps lends to his even tempered attitude at the tables.  Doyle Brunson has once stated, “…He is a deeply religious and devoted family man, who has been a gentleman at all times.”

In recognition of his achievements in the poker world, and his gentlemanly manner at the tables, Berry Johnston received his greatest accolade in 2004 with his induction into the Poker Hall of Fame. Along with fellow player Doyle Brunson, he continues to demonstrate that the “old guard” of the poker world is still able to battle it out with the young guns on the felt and online.