Juha Helppi

Childhood

Growing up in Turku, Helppi was an avid sports enthusiast, excelling particularly in soccer. His competitive spirit extended beyond traditional sports; he became a high-level paintball player and served as captain of the Finnish national paintball championship team multiple times (1997, 2003, 2007, 2008, and 2014). Additionally, in his younger years, he played Magic: The Gathering competitively, demonstrating early strategic thinking and a penchant for games of skill.

Career

Helppi’s professional journey in gambling began not at the poker table but as a casino dealer. At age 21, he worked as a croupier for RAY, the Finnish Slot Machine Association, although he never dealt poker games professionally. His introduction to poker came through friends, and after studying the game extensively, both by playing online and reading advanced poker literature, he quickly rose through the ranks. His breakthrough came at the inaugural World Poker Tour (WPT) event in Aruba, where he gained recognition by eliminating Kathy Liebert and defeating Phil Gordon in a heads-up match. Helppi made several other notable WPT final tables, including a 4th-place finish in the Season 1 Battle of Champions and a 2nd-place finish at the 2005 Grand Prix de Paris, where he was runner-up to Roland De Wolfe.

In 2019, Helppi won his first World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet in the $10,000 Limit Hold'em Championship, followed by a second bracelet in the 2020 WSOP Online $5,000 Pot Limit Omaha Championship. Across his career, he has cashed in 29 WSOP events, amassing over $1.35 million in WSOP earnings. His total live tournament winnings exceed $7.7 million as of 2019.

Helppi also participated in unique poker events such as the first-ever underwater poker tournament in 2005, where he competed against Phil Laak and Kenna James and earned the Caribbean Poker Classic Extreme Poker bracelet. In 2007, he won the inaugural Premier League Poker title, besting legends like Phil Hellmuth and Dave "Devilfish" Ulliott, and defeating Eddy Scharf in heads-up play.

His role as winner of InterPoker's first extreme poker tournament allowed him to select the next event’s location, which he chose to hold on the frozen Gulf of Bothnia in Kemi. He finished second in that event, losing to former WSOP champion Robert Varkonyi.

Personal life

Juha Helppi resides with his girlfriend and their son in Helsinki, Finland. Beyond poker, he maintains an active lifestyle, continuing his involvement in paintball and other strategic games. His multifaceted interests reflect a competitive and analytical mind both inside and outside the gambling arena.

Revenue

Helppi’s poker career has been financially rewarding, with live tournament winnings surpassing $7.7 million as of 2019. His WSOP cashes alone account for over $1.35 million. These figures attest to his consistent performance at high-stakes events over more than a decade.

Interesting facts

• Helppi was a captain of the Finnish national paintball team that won championships multiple times.
• He was a successful Magic: The Gathering player in his youth.
• He took part in the world’s first underwater poker tournament.
• Helppi’s nickname in poker circles is "Peasant," a moniker he has embraced throughout his career.
  

Legacy

Juha Helppi’s legacy in the poker world is that of a versatile and resilient competitor who transitioned from a casino dealer to one of Finland’s most successful poker professionals. His achievements in both live and online poker, as well as his participation in innovative poker events, have contributed to the growth and popularity of poker in Finland and internationally.