button in SafariHow a 'Horrible' Crypto Downswing Turned This 22-Year-Old Into a Poker Crusher
Downswings are never fun, whether in poker or other volatile industries like cryptocurrency. But for Garry Gurevich, some good came out of a "horrible" crypto downswing in February 2025. It motivated the then 20-year-old American day trader to turn to poker, and soon after he was cashing in World Series of Poker (WSOP) championship events from Las Vegas to the Bahamas.
Now 22, Gurevich is continuing to make a name for himself on the WSOP felt. Earlier this week, he finished eighth in the $1,500 Millionaire Maker for $190,000 — pulling him out of a more recent downswing, this one of the poker variety.
"In June I was down $10,000, now we're up $180,000," Gurevich revealed.
PokerNews caught up with Gurevich on Day 1 of the WSOP Tag Team event to talk about his Millionaire Maker run, being the youngest player to cash both the WSOP $10,000 Main Event and $25,000 Super Main Event, partying in Ibiza with million-dollar-bounty puller Tyler Montoya and the crypto downswing that convinced him to pursue poker.
"I've Seen Money Spawn in Thin Air"
Originally from Chicago and now based in Miami, Gurevich, whose carefully curated image — textured hair, textured polo and all-white outfit — is offset by an inviting and even innocent smile, got into crypto as a teenager and quickly developed a knack for day trading.
"I've been in crypto for like six or seven years, since I was like 15, 16 years old," he said.
He saw plenty of highs and lows over those years, and the peak came in January 2025, a month when "crypto was amazing." But the next month was the opposite. The 20-year-old had the biggest downswing of his crypto career in February, one so severe that he decided to stop day trading full time.
"I've seen money spawn in thin air and disappear in thin air, in seconds," he said.
A delayed flight at the Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport in May 2025 led Gurevich to his next venture, one that, as it turns out, would be almost as swingy as day trading.
With seven hours to kill, Gurevich headed to Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood, where for the past two years he had been casually playing in poker cash games (the legal age for gambling in Florida is 18). He saw a $400 buy-in tournament running and decided to hop in, leading him to cash in his first-ever live tournament.
"And I was so happy. It was so much dopamine."
A few months after that first cash, Gurevich finished fifth in the MSPT Chicago $1,100 Main Event for $30,807. And with that, he was hooked on tournaments.
Immediate Poker Success
The day after his final table finish in the MSPT Main Event, a "sun-run" that he attributed to "complete luck," Gurevich booked his flight to Las Vegas for the 2025 WSOP. And just like in Hollywood and Chicago, Gurevich had immediate success.
Gurevich won five Main Event satellites, pocketing the cash with four of them and using the fifth to buy in to poker's biggest event. He made it to Day 4, finishing in 504th place for $32,500 as the youngest player to cash the event. He pulled off the same feat six months later when he cashed the $25,000 Super Main Event for $50,000 — though that one took three bullets to pull off.
"In the Bahamas I lost $25,000 in about 45 minutes," he said about his short-lived second bullet.
Then, earlier this year, Gurevich traveled to Prague for WSOP Europe and finished 14th European Circuit Championship for $28,928. He's still upset about not cashing the Main Event, telling PokerNews that, if he had, he would almost certainly be the youngest player ever to cash all three major WSOP events.
They Like to Party
"I have zero nerves at the poker table. Event at the FT today. I've never in my life tilted, ever."
Like a crypto graph, Gurevich kept trending upwards in poker. This year, he came his closest yet to winning a bracelet with a ninth place finish in the $1,500 Millionaire Maker for $190,000 (He also won a Circuit ring in September 2025 at Horseshoe Hammond). But playing for seven figures wasn't enough to make this 22-year-old sweat.
"I have zero nerves at the poker table. Event at the FT today," he said. "I've never in my life tilted, ever."
Immediately after busting the Milly Maker final table, Gurevich took his seat in the $1,000 Tag Team event with his partner, fellow flashy up-and-comer Tyler Montoya, the recipient of last year's million-dollar bounty.
What the two lack in age they make up for in wavy hair, diamond-studded hoodies outfits and partying stamina. After their hot summers in Las Vegas last year, the 20-somethings jetting to Ibiza and partied in the Mediterranean with their poker winnings.
"I party a lot, but I party sober. He likes to get active and drink. I'm fully sober when I party, but i party a lot."
Gurevich has $397,375 in live earnings after his Millionaire Maker run, but what he really wants is that WSOP Europe Main Event cash to achieve his version of the Triple Crown. And you better believe he'll be chasing it next year.
