Winning any bracelet at the World Series of Poker (WSOP) is super tough. To win two in the opening 10 days of events is practically impossible. Add into the equation that those events have been in mixed games and the achievements of Benny Glaser in the first few days of the 56^th annual WSOP are incredible.

Winning two WSOP bracelets, first in Event #8, the $1,500 Dealer’s Choice event and second in the 15^th event of the series, the $1,500 Mixed PLO 8 or Better tournament.

We caught up with Benny to find out how the PokerStake player managed a feat that so few other players have ever even come close to.

Performing Poker ‘Gymnastics’

“I’m used to it, but it can still be a challenge.”

In mixed games, playing several different disciplines over the same day often looks like great fun but as Benny explained to us, the kind of mental exertion it demands takes its toll too.

“I’m used to playing multiple games from having an online background, multi-tabling during SCOOP and those type of events,” says Benny. “Sometimes that can be difficult, so there is a goal to treat that game as if you’re playing a tournament of that specific game type. If you play 2-7 Triple Draw, there’s a choice to treat that orbit as a tournament. I’m used to it, but it can still be a challenge to be locked in.”

⁠⁠In both events that Benny has won already this summer, massive all-ins that swing momentum are commonplace and dealing with the emotional – and chip – swings is vital. Benny’s table image is one of pure calm, but how close is that to how he really feels?

“The last two final tables I was honestly really struggling with that,” says Benny, “Especially the most recent where seven-handed there were about 12 all-ins and nobody busting, including me doubling up three or four people. That’s tough. I was struggling to drown out that noise and just focus on my play, only focusing on the hands to come.”

While that’s very tough to do, Benny says he reminds himself that anything outside his control shouldn’t impact on his mental state.

“You just keep trying to make the best decisions you can without focusing on things out of your control,” he tells us. “A lot of it is just noise. It’s not how I’m feeling internally but I try to recalibrate myself after every hand.”

The Poker Hero

“It is an incredibly gruelling battle and I’m expecting to be exhausted.”

⁠⁠In bracelet terms, very few players now have more than Benny. He sits on seven with the likes of Scott Seiver, Billy Baxter and Daniel Negreanu for company. While he is still four years away from eligibility for the Poker Hall of Fame, his focus every year is what he can achieve at the WSOP.

“I prioritise it a lot. For example, I missed the last week of SCOOP because of it. I skipped those Main Events because I wanted to come in as ready for the World Series as I can be. I know it’s going to be a very tough summer; it is an incredibly gruelling battle and I’m expecting to be exhausted. I’m going to be flat out with the intention to take some time off after it as well because it’s such a big priority and a huge demand of my energy.”

⁠⁠One of the biggest compliments any poker player can receive is the respect of their peers and Benny has that from so many in the game.

“It does mean a lot to me. It’s very nice to hear those compliments. Another similar one I love is when people say they got into mixed games because of watching me. I’ve had that said to me multiple times this series and it feels very nice. A lot of [those messages] are heartwarming. People don’t have another reason or agenda to send me these things but I receive a lot of them and its really nice to see.”

Buying Into Glory

“It essentially allowed me to go play the WSOP for the first time.”

With so many different game variants, we couldn’t help trying to find out which ones are Benny’s favorites. We gave him two options – one game variant that he finds the most fun and another at which he is most confident of winning.

“Maybe the game that I find most fun is one of the sillier games like ‘Drawmaha’. I enjoy that although I don’t play it very much. For profit, that would depend on a few things, but my default answer is NL single draw 2-7. Its probably close between that and Limit O8 as well.”

⁠⁠Buying Benny’s action on PokerStake is a now-annual pursuit of many fans. When we spoke to Benny about buying and selling and the advantages of doing so, he advocated it strongly. It turns out he’s been doing so for some time.

“I’ve bought for many years throughout my career,” he reveals. “Even 15 years ago, I was buying back on 2+2 forums from people I didn’t know! Selling was also very impactful and helpful for my career as it essentially allowed me to go play the WSOP for the first time. It’s very helpful to be able to play bigger games than if you were playing them on your own money.”

Benny still does this and sold to a $100,000 event earlier in the year. He’s selling to the $50,000 buy-in Poker Players Championship later this summer on PokerStake, too.

“They’re very large buy-ins and I enjoy it when people especially friends have a sweat,” Benny smiles. “PokerStake is a great platform to be able to do that. I have lots of people coming up to me saying they’ve bought a piece of me and that they’re cheering me on. It’s nice to have that support and encouragement.”

With a race to become the 2025 WSOP Player of the Year now in Benny’s hands, how the British mixed games master does will be thrilling for PokerStake fans to see. If they have a piece of the action, it could hardly be in better hands.