Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open Championship (Freeze-Out)
Level 3: 150/300/50 Ante

There are plenty of brilliant minds in the ballroom and champions along with them. Pratyush Buddiga has one of the more interesting stories combining the two.

Buddiga wasn’t old enough to step foot in a casino when he had his first taste of fame on a big stage. He found himself standing by himself in front of a national TV audience and using his big brain to impress on the way to winning the 2002 Scripps National Spelling Bee.

Now 13 years later, Buddiga is a successful poker player with nearly $4 million in career earnings.