Dave Devilfish Ulliott

Name: Dave Ulliott

DOB: 4 April 1954

Nationality: English

Tournament winnings: $5.69m

Nickname: Devilfish

Greatest moment: WSOP bracelet win 1997 

Hull’s Dave ‘Devilfish’ Ulliott is one of the most successful poker players in UK history, with tournament winnings in excess of $5m. Prior to becoming a professional poker player Ulliott was arrested for armed robbery and served time in prison before reforming upon his release and turning to poker.

Ulliott started dominating cash games in the North of England, regularly travelling to the Vic in London also to take on the huge Pot-Limit Omaha games there against tough players such as Donnacha O’Dea. Devilfish is most famous for his tournament success however, one of his first big results being when he defeated Men Nguyen in the 1997 Four Queens Poker Classic. It was here Devilfish acquired his nickname after his cheering section countered calls of ‘Go on the Master’ with ‘Go on the Devilfish’.

With his swelling bankroll Ulliott took to the 1997 WSOP in pursuit of a substantial payday. After placing 13th in $1500 Pot-Limit Omaha, he claimed his first and so far only WSOP bracelet in the $2000 Pot Limit Hold’em event, besting American pros Tom McEvoy and Chris ‘Jesus’ Ferguson to the bracelet and $180,000 first prize.

A succession of WSOP near misses in 2001 was quickly overshadowed by perhaps the finest win in Ulliott’s career, defeating the legendary Phil Ivey heads-up to capture a WPT title at the 2003 Jack Binion World Poker Open, good for nearly $600k.

Never one to shy away from the cameras, Devilfish makes entertaining viewing. He’s aggressive, confrontational and quite capable of beating the best – a World Series bracelet, WPT title and $5.69m in prize money proves that.