(Featured image: courtesy of WPT)
WSOP winners don’t always end up in the spotlight, but Chance Kornuth is one of the few who’s earned both respect and name recognition in the poker world.
He’s won four WSOP bracelets, a WPT title, and even has an EPT victory under his belt.
His live tournament cashes have passed $21 million, putting him just below the super high-roller crowd but still among the top earners in the game.
In this article, we’ll break down what we know about his lifestyle, poker career, and the estimated Chance Kornuth net worth.
| Full Name: Chance Kornuth | |
| DOB: June 24, 1986 | |
| Birthplace: Denver, Colorado | |
| Profession: Pro poker player, online educator, founder of CLCpoker.com | |
| Wife: Emily Tai Kornuth | |
| WSOP Bracelets: 4 | |
| Net Worth & Career Earnings: $29+ million |
Who Is Chance Kornuth? (Poker Player)
First things first, who is Chance Kornuth?
Let’s talk about his early life and background
The Colorado native was born on June 24, 1986, into a family where strategy games were more than just weekend entertainment.
Growing up with his brother Adam, the two were practically inseparable, diving into everything together, including their eventual introduction to poker.
When he was 18, Chance studied engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder, but something didn’t feel right about the traditional path everyone expected him to take.
During his college years, he discovered poker through his brother who introduced him to the game that would change his life forever.
While most students were cramming for finals, Kornuth was learning the ins and outs of online poker, building his bankroll one hand at a time.
His first major breakthrough came in 2010 when he won his first WSOP bracelet at just 24 years old, taking down the $5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha event for over $500,000.
The decision to leave college with just one semester remaining wasn’t made lightly, but our guy had already proven he could make serious money from poker.
He attended Bishop Machebeuf Catholic High School before heading to university, but the engineering degree just wasn’t calling to him anymore.
Currently, he resides in Las Vegas with his spouse Emily Tai Kornuth, whom he married several years ago, and they have a son named Ryan together.
Chance Kornuth Net Worth 2025
Now…
Let’s talk about Chance Kornuth’s net worth, keeping in mind that only he himself could provide the exact figure.
However, our analysis and reasonable estimate is based on publicly available sources, including his tournament results, the growth of his coaching business Chip Leader Coaching, and reported involvement in investments.
So, how much is Chance Kornuth worth?
With over $21 million in recorded live tournament earnings alone, plus his other ventures, we estimate his net worth to be between $25-30+ million in 2025.
This estimate accounts for the significant costs associated with professional poker, including buy-ins, travel expenses, taxes, and the natural variance of tournament poker.
Beyond the felt, Kornuth has diversified his income through real estate investments, startup ventures, and consumer product investments, which likely contribute substantially to his overall wealth.
Chip Leader Coaching
Kornuth took a different approach to poker education.
In the mid-2010s, he launched Chip Leader Coaching with a “coaching for profit” model that replaced upfront payments with a percentage of student winnings.
The setup gave serious players access to high-level training without financial risk, and it quickly picked up traction.
Within a few years, the program had trained over a hundred players with notable live results.
Alex Foxen was one of the earliest success stories and later joined the team as a coach.
Since then, the platform has grown into a full-scale training system, offering structured programs like The Closer and tools such as Chip Leader AI.
The coaching roster includes players with tens of millions in combined earnings.
CLC’s momentum showed again at the 2024 WSOP. Jonathan Tamayo won the Main Event, marking the second year in a row a student from the program claimed the title.
Kristen Foxen ran deep and finished 13th, while Robert Strunk grabbed a bracelet in an online Deepstack event.
Other standout finishes included Stephen Dauphinais taking third in the Millionaire Maker, Stuart Taylor winning two separate events, and Kurt Jewell placing fifth in the Wynn Classic Main.
And to top it off, none other than the founder himself added another win to the tally. CK claimed his fourth bracelet that summer and made three final tables. Wow!
Poker Career Highlights
After shifting from online to live tournaments, the adjustment phase came with its share of setbacks.
The pace, pressure, and dynamics were different, and it took a stretch of trial and error to get comfortable. That rough start eventually led to stronger reads, better decisions, and consistent results on the live circuit.
More than a decade in, the track record speaks for itself, marked by longevity, adaptability, and wins across formats.
Here are some of Chance’s major career milestones.
1) Secured his first World Poker Tour (WPT) title by winning the WPT Choctaw Main Event in 2022.
2) Won his first World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet in 2010, capturing the $5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha event.
3) Founded Chip Leader Coaching, a pioneering poker training platform that introduced the “coaching for profit” model.
4) Expanded into business and investing, including real estate ventures and active involvement in startup and consumer product investments.
5) His biggest single tournament cash came in 2024, when he finished second in the WSOP $50,000 No-Limit Hold’em Eight Max event, earning $1,351,000.
These results track his progression in both competitive poker and the business side of the game.
There were also moments where decisions didn’t sit the same with everyone.
In 2020, he joined the Galfond Challenge, a high-stakes PLO heads-up series featuring players like Phil Galfond, Bill Perkins, and Dan Cates. (For what it’s worth, Jnandez PLO expert ended up backing out.)
He later conceded the match. It was a move that raised some eyebrows.
Below is a video where Chance opens up about conceding the Galfond Challenge:
He addressed the choice publicly, explaining that stepping away gave him more time to focus on areas that were proving more profitable at the time.
Top 5 Biggest Tournament Winnings
He first made a name for himself with an early WSOP bracelet win, but it was the consistency across formats that built his reputation.
Comfortable in No-Limit Hold’em, PLO, and Short Deck, the longtime pro has picked up major scores by staying sharp and taking smart shots when it mattered.
The past two years, especially 2023 and 2024, delivered some of his biggest results to date.
2024 WSOP $50,000 No-Limit Hold’em Eight Max
This massive score came from one of the most prestigious events on the WSOP schedule, featuring a smaller field of elite players competing at eight-handed tables.
The pro battled through a lineup that included some of poker’s biggest names, ultimately reaching heads-up play against tough opposition.
The final table featured notable competitors like Viktor Blom, who finished third, and Adrián Mateos, who came fifth. They are both known for their aggressive, skilled play styles.
The heads-up battle was everything you’d expect from a high roller event: deep stacks, complex strategies, and two players at the top of their game.
Despite his extensive tournament experience and coaching expertise, Chance couldn’t quite close out the title this time.
Still, the $1.35 million runner-up prize represented one of the largest single payouts of his career and proved he could compete with anyone at the highest stakes.
Other Notable Tournament Cashes
- 5th Place 2023 WSOP $250,000 No-Limit Hold’em Shot Clock – $1,202,318
- 10th Place 2024 WSOP Event – $985,000
- 4th Place 2024 WSOP Event – $932,725
- 4th Place 2023 WSOP Event – $833,854
Also in 2024, he won his fourth WSOP bracelet in the $1,000 Flip & Go No-Limit Hold’em event.
Though it wasn’t his biggest win financially, it marked an important milestone in his career.
His previous three bracelets came in 2010 (PLO), 2018 (online NLH), and 2021 (Short Deck), showing his ability to master different poker variants over more than a decade.
Lifestyle, Sponsorships & Side Ventures
Beyond the poker tables, CK has built a diverse portfolio of interests and business ventures that reflect his entrepreneurial mindset and commitment to long-term financial growth.
Here are some of his ventures beyond the felt.
Business Ventures & Investments
Outside the tournament scene, the longtime pro has built up income streams beyond poker.
His biggest move was launching Chip Leader Coaching, which helped reshape the poker training space with its results-based model. The platform has since grown into a full-scale educational system.
He’s also put money into startups and consumer product ventures, though details on those are mostly kept under wraps.
Lifestyle & Personal Interests
Living in Las Vegas with his wife Emily and son Ryan, Chance maintains a relatively grounded lifestyle despite his success.
He’s been open about his journey with mindfulness and meditation, practices he adopted after working with renowned mindfulness coach Tommy Angelo during a challenging period in his career.
The birth of his son Ryan marked a significant turning point in his personal life, helping him overcome struggles with alcohol and embrace sobriety.
Our guy values family time and often brings Emily to tournaments when possible, understanding the importance of maintaining work-life balance in a demanding profession. Isn’t that sweet?
Personal Life
Away from the poker tables, CK has been open about his personal struggles and growth.
He’s spoken candidly about overcoming alcohol addiction, with the birth of his son Ryan playing a pivotal role in his journey to sobriety.
His wife Emily has been a constant source of support throughout his career, often accompanying him to tournaments and family trips.
Kornuth has also been transparent about his approach to mental health and mindfulness.
After working with a minfulness coach during a difficult period in his career, he developed meditation practices that help him stay centered during the inevitable ups and downs of professional poker.
He’s become an advocate for mental health awareness in the poker community, sharing his experiences to help other players who might be struggling with similar issues.
Chance Kornuth: Frequently Asked Questions
How good is Chance Kornuth?
He is considered one of the top tournament players in the world, with four WSOP bracelets, a WPT title, and over $21 million in recorded live tournament earnings.
His success across multiple poker variants and consistent high-level performance makes him an elite player.
Where is Chance Kornuth from?
He is from Colorado, USA. He was born and raised there before eventually moving to Las Vegas to pursue his professional poker career.
How many bracelets does Chance Kornuth have?
He has four WSOP bracelets, won in 2010, 2018, 2021, and 2024. His bracelets span multiple poker variants including Pot-Limit Omaha, No-Limit Hold’em, and Short Deck.
Chance Kornuth Poker Net Worth (Wrap Up)
Over nearly two decades in the game, this high-stakes regular has built more than just a solid tournament résumé.
With multiple WSOP bracelets, millions in live earnings, and a long history of deep runs, the results speak for themselves. But what really sets him apart is how he’s used that momentum off the felt.
Through Chip Leader Coaching, he’s helped reshape how players train, scaling a business model that brought high-level strategy to a wider group without the usual upfront cost.
Add in smart investments and side ventures, and the total picture goes beyond poker alone. At his age, he’s still taking on the toughest fields while building something that leaves a mark.
Now, I’d like to hear from YOU:
- In your opinion, how much is Chance Kornuth worth in 2025?
- Do you think poker coaching platforms (like CLC) actually make a long-term difference in a player’s results?
Let me know in the comments below!
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