James Collopy Poker Player Profile
James "Jim" Collopy is an American professional poker player known for his versatility across Pot-Limit Omaha, mixed games, and No-Limit Hold'em. The Washington, D.C. native is a three-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner, the 2024 Poker Masters champion, and a longtime tournament professional whose live results span the online-poker era through today's high-stakes tournament circuit.
Collopy first attracted major attention as a young online player competing under the nickname "Mr. Big Queso." His career has since developed into one defined by success across multiple poker formats rather than a single specialty. As of August 2026, The Hendon Mob lists more than $12.7 million in live tournament earnings for Collopy, while the WSOP credits him with three bracelets.
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Who Is James Collopy?
James Collopy, commonly known as Jim Collopy, is an American professional poker player from Washington, D.C. He emerged during the late 2000s as part of a generation of young players who developed much of their experience online before establishing themselves in major live tournaments.
By 2010, Collopy was already competing internationally while attending New York University. The WSOP described him that year as a 21-year-old economics student and high-stakes online player known as "Mr. Big Queso."
His early career quickly demonstrated that his game extended beyond online poker. In September 2010, Collopy reached the final of the £10,350 High Roller Heads-Up event at the World Series of Poker Europe in London. He faced established high-stakes star Gus Hansen in a best-of-three final and finished runner-up for £178,211.
That performance gave Collopy one of his first major international results and brought him within one match of a WSOP bracelet three years before he eventually won his first.
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From Online Poker to WSOP Champion
Collopy continued traveling and playing internationally after his breakthrough in London. By the time the inaugural World Series of Poker Asia-Pacific was held at Crown Melbourne in 2013, he had become an experienced tournament professional.
The trip produced the first WSOP victory of his career.
Collopy entered the final table of the A$1,650 Pot-Limit Omaha event as chip leader and ultimately defeated Edison Nguyen heads-up. The tournament attracted 172 entries, and Collopy earned A$69,662 along with his first WSOP bracelet.
The victory was particularly fitting for a player whose career would become increasingly associated with Omaha and mixed-game tournaments.
At the time, Collopy was still combining poker with other interests. The WSOP reported that he had earned an economics degree with a minor in Irish Studies and was living in Australia while attending culinary school. Poker, however, remained a constant part of his life.
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James Collopy's WSOP Bracelets
Collopy has won three World Series of Poker bracelets, with each victory coming in a different Omaha or mixed-game setting.
2013 WSOP Asia-Pacific: A$1,650 Pot-Limit Omaha, 172 entries, A$69,662 first prize
2021 WSOP: $3,000 H.O.R.S.E., 282 entries, $172,823 first prize
2023 WSOP: $1,500 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better, 1,143 entries, $262,542 first prize
The eight-year gap between his first and second bracelets did not represent an absence from major tournament poker. Collopy continued producing results across WSOP, WPT, high-roller, and mixed-game events before returning to the winner's circle in 2021.
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Second Bracelet in the 2021 H.O.R.S.E. Event
Collopy's second bracelet came in one of poker's traditional mixed-game formats.
At the 2021 World Series of Poker, he defeated a 282-entry field in the $3,000 H.O.R.S.E. event. H.O.R.S.E. rotates between Limit Hold'em, Omaha Hi-Lo, Razz, Seven Card Stud, and Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo, requiring players to adjust continuously between different games.
Collopy earned $172,823 for the victory.
The result also provided some redemption after he had finished runner-up in the $1,500 H.O.R.S.E. event at the 2014 WSOP. His eventual victory seven years later reinforced his reputation as a player capable of competing successfully well beyond No-Limit Hold'em.
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Third Bracelet in Omaha Hi-Lo
Collopy added bracelet number three at the 2023 World Series of Poker.
He defeated a field of 1,143 entries in Event #17, the $1,500 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better tournament at Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas. The event generated a prize pool of more than $1.5 million, with Collopy earning $262,542 for first place.
The victory gave him bracelets in Pot-Limit Omaha, H.O.R.S.E., and Omaha Hi-Lo.
That range of titles is an important part of Collopy's career. While he has accumulated substantial results in No-Limit Hold'em, his WSOP championships demonstrate particular strength in Omaha and mixed-game formats.
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Career-Best $973,882 WSOP Score
Collopy recorded the largest live tournament cash of his career at the 2024 World Series of Poker.
He reached the final three of the $50,000 High Roller Pot-Limit Omaha event, one of the most expensive and competitive PLO tournaments on the WSOP schedule. The tournament attracted 187 entries and generated a prize pool of more than $8.9 million.
Collopy finished third behind eventual champion Daniel Perkusic and runner-up Danny Tang, collecting $973,882.
The result surpassed all of Collopy's previous individual live scores and became the largest recorded cash on his Hendon Mob tournament résumé.
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2024 Poker Masters Champion
The 2024 season became one of the strongest stretches of Collopy's career.
At the Poker Masters in Las Vegas, he reached four consecutive final tables in No-Limit Hold'em high-roller events. He finished sixth, third, second, and second across that run, earning a combined $521,600.
Those results gave Collopy 522 PokerGO Tour points for the series, enough to finish ahead of Isaac Haxton and Jeremy Becker and win the Poker Masters Purple Jacket.
His Poker Masters results were:
Sixth in the $10,100 No-Limit Hold'em Event #3 for $47,000
Third in the $10,100 No-Limit Hold'em Event #4 for $105,300
Second in the $10,100 No-Limit Hold'em Event #5 for $142,500
Second in the $15,100 No-Limit Hold'em Event #6 for $226,800
Collopy won the series championship without winning an individual event. His consistency across four consecutive high-roller final tables was enough to secure the Purple Jacket.
The accomplishment also demonstrated the other side of his tournament game. Although his three WSOP bracelets came in Omaha and mixed games, Collopy captured one of poker's recognized high-stakes series championships entirely through No-Limit Hold'em results.
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Back-to-Back Wins at Wynn Las Vegas
Collopy closed 2024 with another notable run during the WPT World Championship festival at Wynn Las Vegas.
On December 20, he won a $10,500 Pot-Limit Omaha event that attracted 84 entries, earning $209,628.
One day later, he won again.
This time Collopy topped 105 entries in a $10,500 No-Limit Hold'em event for $298,147. Winning high-stakes events in two different poker formats on consecutive days added another example of the versatility that has defined his career.
According to CardPlayer's year-end standings, Collopy finished 2024 with six tournament titles and 26 qualifying final-table appearances, placing eighth in its final Player of the Year race.
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2025 PGT PLO Championship Victory
Collopy carried his strong form into 2025.
At the PokerGO Tour PLO Series, he won Event #10, the $25,200 Pot-Limit Omaha Championship, for $450,367.
The victory came in the championship event of a series devoted to one of the games most closely associated with Collopy's tournament résumé. It also added another high-stakes title to a career that already included his three WSOP bracelets and Poker Masters championship.
His 2025 results further established that the exceptional tournament volume and final-table production he recorded in 2024 was not an isolated run.
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James Collopy's Career Earnings
As of August 2026, The Hendon Mob lists James Collopy with more than $12.7 million in live tournament earnings and a career-best individual cash of $973,882.
Live tournament earnings change whenever a player records another qualifying result, so Collopy's career total should be treated as a moving figure rather than a permanent statistic.
His earnings have been accumulated across a wide range of tournament settings, including:
World Series of Poker bracelet events
Pot-Limit Omaha high rollers
Mixed-game tournaments
PokerGO Tour events
Poker Masters
World Poker Tour events and festival tournaments
No-Limit Hold'em high rollers
International tournament series
The breadth of those results distinguishes Collopy from players whose tournament records are concentrated primarily in one poker variant.
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Does James Collopy Have a WPT Title?
Collopy has produced several major results in tournaments connected with the World Poker Tour, but the WPT's official player record lists zero Main Tour victories.
He finished runner-up in the 2019 WPT Rolling Thunder Main Event and has reached multiple WPT final tables.
His back-to-back victories at Wynn Las Vegas in December 2024 occurred during the WPT World Championship festival, but they were side events rather than WPT Main Tour championship victories.
That distinction is important when comparing tournament titles across different poker tours.
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What Games Does James Collopy Play?
Collopy's tournament record covers an unusually broad selection of poker formats.
His three WSOP bracelets alone came in Pot-Limit Omaha, H.O.R.S.E., and Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better. He has also reached major final tables and won high-stakes tournaments in No-Limit Hold'em.
That combination makes "mixed-game and Omaha specialist" a useful description of part of his career, but it does not fully describe his results. His 2024 Poker Masters championship was built entirely through No-Limit Hold'em high-roller final tables, and his back-to-back victories at Wynn later that year came in PLO and No-Limit Hold'em on consecutive days.
Rather than being defined by one variant, Collopy's results show an ability to compete across different forms of tournament poker.
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Major Poker Accomplishments
Three-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner
2024 Poker Masters Purple Jacket champion
Career-best live cash of $973,882
More than $12.7 million in recorded live tournament earnings as of August 2026
2010 WSOP Europe High Roller Heads-Up runner-up
2013 WSOP Asia-Pacific Pot-Limit Omaha bracelet winner
2021 WSOP $3,000 H.O.R.S.E. bracelet winner
2023 WSOP $1,500 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better bracelet winner
Third place in the 2024 WSOP $50,000 Pot-Limit Omaha High Roller
Four consecutive final tables during the 2024 Poker Masters
Back-to-back $10,500 tournament victories at Wynn Las Vegas in December 2024
Winner of the 2025 PGT PLO Series $25,200 Pot-Limit Omaha Championship
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James Collopy's Current Poker Career
Collopy remains an active tournament player.
His official WSOP record shows continued cashes during the 2026 World Series of Poker, including appearances in No-Limit Hold'em and Pot-Limit Omaha events. More than 15 years after his breakthrough runner-up finish against Gus Hansen in London, Collopy continues competing across WSOP tournaments, high rollers, and major tournament festivals.
His career has also changed substantially since the period when he was primarily identified as the young online player known as "Mr. Big Queso." Three WSOP bracelets, a Poker Masters championship, major PLO results, and more than $12 million in live earnings have given Collopy a résumé built across several distinct eras of tournament poker.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many WSOP bracelets does James Collopy have?
James Collopy has three WSOP bracelets. He won Pot-Limit Omaha at the 2013 WSOP Asia-Pacific, the $3,000 H.O.R.S.E. event at the 2021 WSOP, and the $1,500 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better event at the 2023 WSOP.
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How much has James Collopy won playing live poker?
As of August 2026, The Hendon Mob lists James Collopy with more than $12.7 million in live tournament earnings. That figure can change as additional tournament results are recorded.
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What is James Collopy's biggest poker cash?
Collopy's largest recorded live tournament cash is $973,882. He earned it by finishing third in the $50,000 High Roller Pot-Limit Omaha event at the 2024 World Series of Poker.
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Did James Collopy win the Poker Masters?
Yes. Collopy won the 2024 Poker Masters Purple Jacket after reaching four consecutive final tables and earning 522 PokerGO Tour points during the series.
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What is James Collopy's poker nickname?
Collopy has long been associated with the online poker nickname "Mr. Big Queso." The nickname appeared in WSOP and poker-media coverage during the early years of his career.
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Where is James Collopy from?
James Collopy is from Washington, D.C. He attended New York University and studied economics before establishing himself as a full-time tournament poker professional.
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Does James Collopy have a World Poker Tour title?
The World Poker Tour's official player record lists Collopy with zero WPT Main Tour wins. He has reached multiple WPT final tables and has won side events held during WPT festivals, including two consecutive $10,500 events at Wynn Las Vegas in December 2024.
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What poker games is James Collopy known for?
Collopy is particularly accomplished in Pot-Limit Omaha and mixed games, but he has also recorded major No-Limit Hold'em results. His WSOP bracelets span PLO, H.O.R.S.E., and Omaha Hi-Lo, while his 2024 Poker Masters championship came through No-Limit Hold'em high-roller events.
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Is James Collopy still playing poker?
Yes. Collopy remains an active tournament player, with his official WSOP record showing multiple cashes during the 2026 World Series of Poker.
