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Antonio Vargas is an American poker player best known for winning Event #16: $1,700 U.S. Circuit Championship at the 2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP) in Las Vegas. Vargas became a one-time bracelet winner, earning $439,605 for his victory.
Vargas has one recorded live cash in November 2004, but then nothing until he reappeared in January 2022. Since then, Vargas has cashed more than 100 times, totaling more than $1.6 million.
In 2025, Vargas cashed for almost $850,000 in live tournaments, an impressive number helped by winning a $1,600 No-Limit Hold'em event at the Wynn Las Vegas for $307,794 and a $1,100 MSPT Black Hawk Main Event for $141,255.
Vargas is coached by top-tier pro Faraz Jaka. His training reaped the rewards when he topped a 2,148-strong field in the $1,700 U.S. Circuit Championship event at the 2026 WSOP, a victory worth $439,605 and the all-important first bracelet. A delighted Vargas spoke to PokerNews shortly after winning his first bracelet.
"To be honest, it's probably gonna take me a couple of days to process it," Vargas told PokerNews in a winner's interview. "(I'm) very lucky to have gotten this far and to be able to beat 2,200 people in this event. So it's just very fortunate and lucky and (I'm) grateful to be able to ... close it out."
