Unlike the scores of young players who have been dominating online play in recent years, Cliff ‘JohnnyBax’ Josephy started his poker career much later. After attending the University of Michigan, Josephy moved to Syosset, New York to start a family and work as a stock broker. It was there that he met Eric ‘sheets’ Haber who became his friend, teacher, and business partner. Ever since 2002 – the year he decided to take the game seriously – JohnnyBax has been one of the most consistent poker players in the world.
As of this writing, JohnnyBax holds the record for longest reign atop the PocketFives.com online tournament player rankings. He has extremely impressive results over the last few years, including a win in the FTOPS X Pot Limit Omaha Hi/Lo event for $46K. In 2009, he won PokerStars’ $1K Super Tuesday for $68K and the $85K Guaranteed for $46K. He is currently ranked 38th in the online rankings.
On the live tournament circuit, Josephy is most known for entering the 2005 World Series of Poker $1500 Seven Card Stud event having never played stud. In a true testament to his uncanny understanding of poker, Josephy won the tournament and $192K. In 2006, he cashed in second at the UB.com Aruba Poker Classic for $446K. A month later, he took second at the World Poker Finals in Mashantucket for $187K. More recently, he narrowly missed his second WSOP bracelet, taking third in the 2009 $5K Pot Limit Omaha for $166K. All told, Josephy has over $1.5 million in live tournament earnings.
Interestingly enough, Josephy’s biggest poker score wasn’t his own. JohnnyBax and sheets were the sole backers of 2009 WSOP Champion Joe Cada, which means they received half of the $8.5 million dollar first place prize money.
Along with Haber and Scott ‘mindwise’ Pendergast, Josephy started PokerXFactor, a premier online poker training site. Currently, he serves as lead instructor and part owner, which allows him to play less poker and spend more time with his family.
Click here for Cliff Josephy’s interview with Poker News Daily.
