Ray Henson

Ray Henson is an American professional poker player from Houston, Texas. He has nearly $3.4 million in live tournament earnings. His best live cash was $476,926, which he earned by finishing in 12th place at the 38th World Series of Poker (WSOP) in July 2007. Henson has won five WSOP Circuit (WSOPC) Rings through live tournaments.

In addition, he was sponsored by the now-defunct Full Tilt Poker and became a RunGood ambassador.

Ray Henson: Early Life

Ray Henson was born and raised in the Houston area. After spending several years away from the city, he moved back around 2004. That is when he started having kids, as he always wanted to raise his family in Houston. Henson began playing poker at 21, mixing it with his job in 1999. At that time, he managed a Foot Locker store and played poker after work. He soon realized he was making more money from poker than his job, so he focused on poker. He told himself he would return to work only if he ran out of money. Fortunately, that never happened.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Henson remained active in the poker scene. He was traveling at least once a month to attend every RunGood poker stop, while also participating in various other events around the world.

Ray Henson: Live Tournament Participation

Ray Henson recorded his first live cash in March 2003, he placed 2nd in a $500 + $40 Pot Limit Hold’em event at the World Poker Challenge in Reno, earning $9,593.

After this early success, Henson returned to the tournament scene in July 2007, where he competed in the $10,000 World Championship No Limit Hold’em at the 38th World Series of Poker in Las Vegas, finishing 12th and cashing $476,926.

Later that same year, in November, he took 2nd place in the $5,000 + $150 No Limit Hold’em Championship Event at the Scotty Nguyen Poker Challenge IV in Tulsa, earning $138,322.

Following a three-year gap, Henson continued his successful run in November 2010 by finishing 5th in the $4,750 + $250 No Limit Hold’em Main Event of the North American Poker Tour in Los Angeles, earning $145,000.

Then, in January 2015, he achieved 1st place in the $365 No Limit Hold’em Re-Entry (Ring Event #3) at the WSOP Circuit Choctaw in Durant, cashing $197,588.

In May 2015, just a few months later, Henson placed 3rd in the $565 No Limit Hold’em The Colossus (Event #5) at the 46th World Series of Poker in Las Vegas, earning $308,761.

In a recent appearance in August 2024, he finished 3rd in the $250 Pot Limit Big O (Congress) (Event #29) at the Champions Club Summer Poker Open in Houston, earning $1,930.

Ray Henson’s 5 WSOPC Rings

• January 2013 – $1,000 + 125 No Limit Hold’em, WSOPC Bicycle Casino. (1st place, won $42,390)
• March 2013 – $365 No Limit Hold’em, WSOPC Black Hawk. (1st place, won $16,128)
• May 2013 – $365 Pot Limit Omaha, WSOPC New Orleans. (1st place, won $13,203)
• January 2015 – $365 No Limit Hold’em, WSOPC Choctaw. (1st place, won $197,588)
• November 2019 – $300 NoLimit Hold’em, WSOPC Aruba. (1st place, won $7,428)