Phil Gordon

Phil Gordon, also known as ‘Tiltboy,‘ is an American professional poker player, author, and CEO and founder of Prompt.io. He is originally from Stone Mountain, Georgia, and has over $2.7 million in live tournament earnings. Throughout his poker career, he achieved significant victories, including a win at the 41st WSOP in July 2010. Additionally, he won the WPT Bay 101 Shooting Star in March 2004. His best live cash, totaling $600,000, came from winning the Full Tilt Poker Championship in November 2006.

He was also sponsored by the now-defunct Full Tilt Poker.

Alongside his poker success, he has authored several books, including his most popular one, ‘Phil Gordon’s Little Green Book: Lessons and Teachings in No Limit Texas Hold’em‘ (2005).

Phil Gordon: Early Life

Born on July 6, 1970, in Stone Mountain, Georgia, where he learned to play poker during the summers with his Aunt Lib. At 15, he enrolled at the Georgia Institute of Technology as a high school student, having skipped his senior year to accept a National Merit Scholarship. From 1987 to 1991, he studied computer science and graduated with a degree in the field. During his college years, in May 2000, he entered his first live poker tournament at the 31st WSOP, marking the beginning of his competitive poker journey.

Following graduation, Phil began his career as a research scientist at Lockheed Missiles and Space, where he worked from January 1992 to May 1993. In 1996, at the age of 26, he started investing as an angel investor. In 2003, Phil founded Bad Beat on Cancer, an outreach program promoting cancer research and early detection education by asking poker players to pledge 1% of their winnings. The initiative gained full support from WSOP and led to 11 free poker seminars featuring top poker minds. The following year, in June 2004, he founded Expert Insight, a company that sold educational DVDs. However, due to limited interest, the business closed in June 2007.

In January 2012, he expanded into gaming by founding Jawfish Games, a multiplayer game platform for mobile and web. Soon after, the company was acquired by a local game company for $20 million. That same year, he launched Prompt.io, formerly known as Chatbox, a platform that empowers organizations to deliver effective and engaging customer experiences through text messaging for sales, marketing, and customer service. Prompt.io continues to operate successfully to this day.

Tiltboy: Live Tournament Participation

Phil Gordon’s first recorded live cash occurred in May 2000 at the 31st WSOP in Las Vegas. He finished in 14th place in a $2,500 + 80 Limit Omaha Hi/Lo, cashing $4,400.

In May 2001, Phil played in a $10,000 No Limit Hold’em Championship Event at the 32nd WSOP. He finished in 4th place and earned $399,610.

Following this, he joined in a WPT Aruba No Limit Hold’em – Pro’s Pocket Event #2 at the Ultimate Bet Poker Classic in Palm Beach in October 2002. He finished in 1st place and won $250,000.

At the WPT Bay 101 Shooting Star in March 2004, he bagged $360,000. Phil entered in a $5,000 + 200 No Limit Hold’em Championship Final Day and clinched victory.

His winning streak continued as he won his biggest live cash of $600,000 at the FullTiltPoker Championship in Las Vegas in November 2006.

Continuing his triumph, in July 2010, he secured his first bracelet at the 41st WSOP. He took part in a $5,000 Ante Up For Africa Charity Event and won $129,086.

Later in November of that year, he participated in a No Limit Hold’em Finals at the FullTiltPoker Doubles Poker Championship. Phil finished in 2nd place and cashed $250,000.

In a recent appearance in August 2024, Phil competed in a $260 No Limit Hold’em during the Foxwoods Recurring Tournaments. He ended up in 6th place, earning $1,135.

Conclusion

Phil Gordon, also known as “Tiltboy,” is a skilled poker player, author, and entrepreneur from Stone Mountain, Georgia. With over $2.7 million in tournament winnings and significant wins like the WSOP bracelet in 2010 and the WPT Bay 101 in 2004, he’s had a strong impact in the poker world. Beyond poker, he founded Prompt.io, a company specializing in customer engagement through messaging. Gordon has also contributed to charity by creating Bad Beat on Cancer, and he’s shared his poker knowledge through books and educational projects. His journey reflects both poker success and entrepreneurial drive.