Watch the world’s elite tournament grinders long enough, and there are moments when the game begins to look less like mathematics and more like a work of high art.
When the all-time live poker tournament earnings leader, Bryn Kenney, is dealt two cards, he sees a masterpiece waiting to be created. Every bet, check, raise, and bet sizing becomes another brush stroke on the felt canvas, slowly revealing the picture he envisions in his mind.
“The game of poker is like an art form to me. I see myself as an artist, but with two cards, or maybe it's a symphony that I'm creating. It just so happens to be with two cards.
“The way that I play and think about poker, I feel like I'm allowing myself to express my creativity, which is really fun. Whereas a lot of people get stuck in this way or that way of how you're supposed to play, I play a different game that thinks outside the box.”
And that different game has worked out rather well for the former Magic: The Gathering world champion. Kenney sits on top of the all-time money list with over $90 million in total winnings.
PokerOrg caught up with Kenney at the recent WSOP series in Vegas as he closed out a summer to remember. He left town with two near misses for gold, finishing third in the $50K High Roller and second in the $250K Super High Roller for a combined payday of close to $4M.
Finding a home in poker
You’ve held onto the top spot in career earnings for some time now. What do you love most about competing after accomplishing so much in the game so far?
I feel super grateful for all the tournament success that I've had. I really love hanging out with friends from all around the world. It’s just amazing to connect with these like-minded people.
At times I've felt like a freak my whole life, to be honest.
When did you start feeling this way?
When I was in high school, I felt different than most people, than the population around me. You think differently. Most people conform to the system that life presents to them.
I feel like poker is the exact opposite of that. It's for the people who don't want that road set out for them. I had a hard time relating to people in life in high school, but in our poker community I feel almost at home. It feels good to be a normal person around everyone.
What makes the poker community different?
You've got a lot of people on the spectrum; super autistic to medium autistic geniuses is what I see. Maybe 'neurodivergent' is a better word.
The winners in poker all have a high degree of this. They think outside the box; they're genius problem solvers. You can relate to these people and have good banter at the table.
If you were beginning to learn poker now in 2026, how would you approach the game?
If I had to listen to what poker commentary is now, that you have to play GTO to win, I would have thought to myself that this game is terrible. I would have no interest. I don’t want to study.
How did your feel for the game evolve?
You can discover many ways to find your creativity in the game. You can build a world-class strategy from super-tight to super-aggressive. Whatever works for you.
You can work hard on your game and on yourself and have a great time doing it. For me, it hits all the boxes. It’s incredible to love something and also find your creativity in it and create this symphony, this kind of work of art.
X confessions
You also wrote in a recent X post (above) about making mistakes and learning to take accountability. What has that process taught you?
I think there's a general stigma around people trying to be this perfect person who doesn’t make mistakes.
We're all trying to show up at our best. At the same time, you have to accept that you're going to make lots of mistakes, fail, and burn yourself to the ground. You're going to make decisions at 20 or 25 that you wouldn't make at 35.
Maybe it has nothing to do with your intentions. You just didn't really know what you were doing, you were young and stupid, ran into money for the first time, and were arrogant with a big ego.
Has getting older changed the way you deal with other people, especially when you're trying to help them?
I've always judged myself and have been incredibly harsh on myself to be better. I’ve also learned to forgive myself by allowing myself to make mistakes and not being too hard on myself. It takes time in this process to realize how others perceive the way you express yourself.
As someone who solves problems for a living, you see decisions that people are making in their lives and you can easily see the changes they could make that would help them be more successful or live a happier life.
But a lot of times people don't really want that from you, and then you learn that it's not really your job to give that to them.
On that same X thread you said that you were sorry to anyone you may have hurt in the past. What inspired you to share this?
That was a message I wrote to say I've been in the wrong in situations where, at times, I didn't think I was in the wrong.
It takes wisdom and age to realize that you either played a part or that you were wrong in any given situation. And maybe you hurt this person, but that wasn't your intention.
I’m doing my best to live a more harmonious life and not hold any negative feelings towards anyone.
You also offered to help anyone making a deep run in the Main Event. That was pretty cool.
I wasn’t trying to buy a piece of anyone or asking for any money for the help. I was sharing that if a player needed advice, I was open for them to write me on X or reach out.
Right after I posted that, I went into the casino elevator, and there was a guy who was still in the Main Event. We chatted for a few minutes. He had a few things that he wanted to talk about, and I gave him my opinion on the situation.
That was crazy. Because there I am, putting that question out to the universe to help, and I walk into the elevator and there's a guy who's in the final 68.
That’s the way the universe works.
Follow Bryn on X.
Additional images courtesy of Kong Poker Cup/Triton Poker/Rational Intellectual Holdings Ltd.
