Three years ago, Josh Guindon was an emergency room doctor living near Boston, but a decision on a quiet Saturday night changed the course of both his life and his poker career.
Back in March of 2022, Guindon’s colleague asked to swap shifts, giving him an unexpected free Saturday. He and his family decided to take a drive to Connecticut to visit relatives. Before dinner, Guindon entered a 1,100-player freeroll with a prize package to the WPT Venetian for the winner.
What followed was nothing short of incredible. Guindon won the satellite, earning a $7,000 package, and then, in his first-ever recorded live tournament cash, he earned $19,700.
That victory set the stage for Guindon’s remarkable rise in the poker world. He went on to qualify for WPT Voyage last year, making it to the final two tables. He came close to a shot at a WPT final table, but his journey was cut short by the formidable Dan Sepiol.
“I had about 15 blinds, 650,000 chips in the small blind,” Guindon recalled. “I was thinking, ‘How can I maximize this spot, just trap him?’ So I called, and then he instantly shoved all-in. I was thinking, ‘This is like a slot machine hitting triple sevens.’ I called, and he had a flush.”
Despite the setback, Guindon finished in 11th place for $24,000, marking another successful chapter in his poker career. But he wasn’t finished yet.
In the following months, Guindon made another deep run at the WPT bestbet Scramble, finishing 18th for $16,800, and then entered a different kind of freeroll: the legendary $5 million ClubWPT Gold Freeroll.
“I won an NFL pick’em contest Tony Dunst was hosting, and that got me into the tournament,” Guindon explained. “I told Jeremy Clemons from ClubWPT that my goal was to make the final table.”
Guindon ended Day 1 of the ClubWPT Gold Freeroll with a solid stack and a bounty, but it was the draw that changed everything. He was encouraged by a friend to choose a large bounty prize, and when he opened it, he couldn’t believe his eyes: $100,000.
The magic continued as Guindon went on to finish 7th in the tournament, adding another $30,000 to his poker earnings. With these successes under his belt, Guindon has now been named the first-ever ambassador for ClubWPT, a milestone that marks a new chapter in his poker journey.
Reflecting on his rise, Guindon shared, “It’s incredibly exciting and an honor. I’m grateful for the people I’ve met along the way—everyone from the cameramen to the dealers, player relations, Jeremy Clemons, and Adam Pliska—they’ve all made this such an amazing experience. I’m thrilled to represent this fantastic community.”
As a ClubWPT ambassador, Guindon’s first responsibility will be participating in a special ClubWPT $5,000 Sun Run Bounty Tournament. He’ll also be involved in upcoming events like the WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown Championship, and he’ll return for the WPT Bay101 Shooting Star Championship and WPT World Championship in December.
For Guindon, the excitement is only beginning, but his family remains his greatest motivation. “My wife, Alex, has been incredibly supportive throughout this journey,” he said. “With two boys now, we’ve agreed that 50% of any winnings go straight to their college funds. It’s tough being away, but my wife understands how much joy this has brought me, and she’s behind me all the way.”
Guindon’s rise from an eager ClubWPT player to ambassador is a testament to his dedication, and he’s eager to share his journey with those who have supported him along the way.
source: https://www.poker.org/latest-news/d...donis-clubwpts-first-ambassador-a3ypZ4s9sICt/
Back in March of 2022, Guindon’s colleague asked to swap shifts, giving him an unexpected free Saturday. He and his family decided to take a drive to Connecticut to visit relatives. Before dinner, Guindon entered a 1,100-player freeroll with a prize package to the WPT Venetian for the winner.
What followed was nothing short of incredible. Guindon won the satellite, earning a $7,000 package, and then, in his first-ever recorded live tournament cash, he earned $19,700.
That victory set the stage for Guindon’s remarkable rise in the poker world. He went on to qualify for WPT Voyage last year, making it to the final two tables. He came close to a shot at a WPT final table, but his journey was cut short by the formidable Dan Sepiol.
“I had about 15 blinds, 650,000 chips in the small blind,” Guindon recalled. “I was thinking, ‘How can I maximize this spot, just trap him?’ So I called, and then he instantly shoved all-in. I was thinking, ‘This is like a slot machine hitting triple sevens.’ I called, and he had a flush.”
Despite the setback, Guindon finished in 11th place for $24,000, marking another successful chapter in his poker career. But he wasn’t finished yet.
In the following months, Guindon made another deep run at the WPT bestbet Scramble, finishing 18th for $16,800, and then entered a different kind of freeroll: the legendary $5 million ClubWPT Gold Freeroll.
“I won an NFL pick’em contest Tony Dunst was hosting, and that got me into the tournament,” Guindon explained. “I told Jeremy Clemons from ClubWPT that my goal was to make the final table.”
Guindon ended Day 1 of the ClubWPT Gold Freeroll with a solid stack and a bounty, but it was the draw that changed everything. He was encouraged by a friend to choose a large bounty prize, and when he opened it, he couldn’t believe his eyes: $100,000.
The magic continued as Guindon went on to finish 7th in the tournament, adding another $30,000 to his poker earnings. With these successes under his belt, Guindon has now been named the first-ever ambassador for ClubWPT, a milestone that marks a new chapter in his poker journey.
Reflecting on his rise, Guindon shared, “It’s incredibly exciting and an honor. I’m grateful for the people I’ve met along the way—everyone from the cameramen to the dealers, player relations, Jeremy Clemons, and Adam Pliska—they’ve all made this such an amazing experience. I’m thrilled to represent this fantastic community.”
As a ClubWPT ambassador, Guindon’s first responsibility will be participating in a special ClubWPT $5,000 Sun Run Bounty Tournament. He’ll also be involved in upcoming events like the WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown Championship, and he’ll return for the WPT Bay101 Shooting Star Championship and WPT World Championship in December.
For Guindon, the excitement is only beginning, but his family remains his greatest motivation. “My wife, Alex, has been incredibly supportive throughout this journey,” he said. “With two boys now, we’ve agreed that 50% of any winnings go straight to their college funds. It’s tough being away, but my wife understands how much joy this has brought me, and she’s behind me all the way.”
Guindon’s rise from an eager ClubWPT player to ambassador is a testament to his dedication, and he’s eager to share his journey with those who have supported him along the way.
source: https://www.poker.org/latest-news/d...donis-clubwpts-first-ambassador-a3ypZ4s9sICt/
