Preston McEwen Poker Profile: WSOP Circuit Rings, Earnings & Career Highlights
Preston McEwen has built his poker career through sustained success on the American tournament circuit, particularly at World Series of Poker Circuit and RunGood Poker Series stops. The Tennessee professional has accumulated 12 WSOP Circuit rings, multiple Main Event victories, deep finishes on poker's biggest stages, and reported career live tournament earnings of more than $3 million.
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Who Is Preston McEwen?
Preston McEwen is an American professional poker player from Memphis, Tennessee, best known for his success in live tournament poker.
Much of his career has been spent traveling the southeastern United States, where he has become a familiar presence at WSOP Circuit and RunGood Poker Series events. His résumé includes repeated victories at Horseshoe Tunica and Harrah's Cherokee, two properties that have played major roles in his rise through the regional tournament ranks.
As of August 18, 2026, the World Series of Poker lists McEwen with 12 WSOP Circuit rings and no WSOP bracelets. He has also recorded major finishes at the World Series of Poker and WPT World Championship while establishing himself as one of the most successful RunGood Poker Series players.
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From Touring Musician to Professional Poker Player
McEwen's experience with life on the road began before poker became his profession.
Before transitioning to full-time tournament poker, McEwen worked as a touring drummer. He spent much of his 20s traveling across North America with a blues-rock and jam-band-style group.
As his family life changed, poker offered a different way to build a career while maintaining more control over his travel schedule. McEwen told the World Poker Tour in 2024 that tournament poker allowed him to choose when he traveled and coordinate his schedule around his family.
The transition eventually connected him with the RunGood Poker Series and a group of fellow tournament professionals who helped him adjust to the demands of playing poker for a living. RunGood founder Tana Karnchanakphan has identified McEwen as an ambassador for the brand, and McEwen has credited relationships developed through the tour with helping him navigate his professional career.
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Building a Career on the WSOP Circuit
The WSOP Circuit has become the centerpiece of McEwen's tournament résumé.
McEwen earned his first WSOP Circuit ring at Horseshoe Tunica in 2018. The Mississippi property would eventually become one of the most important venues of his career.
His Circuit results accelerated over the following years. In December 2022, McEwen won a $400 Monster Stack at Harrah's Cherokee for $133,830, giving him his third career Circuit ring at the time.
A bigger breakthrough followed in early 2023.
McEwen defeated a 642-entry field in the $1,700 WSOP Circuit Horseshoe Tunica Main Event, earning $183,653 and his fourth Circuit ring. The score remains the largest recorded live tournament cash of his career.
Winning a Circuit Main Event also established that McEwen's results extended beyond smaller preliminary events. He continued producing deep runs and victories as his ring count climbed over the next several seasons.
By August 2025, McEwen had reached nine WSOP Circuit rings after another victory at Harrah's Cherokee.
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A Second WSOP Circuit Tunica Main Event Title
McEwen returned to one of his most successful venues in April 2026 and added another major championship.
Playing the Main Event at the 2026 WSOP Circuit Horseshoe Tunica, McEwen topped the field to earn $105,270 and his tenth career WSOP Circuit ring.
The victory carried additional significance because Horseshoe Tunica was also the site of his first Circuit ring and his 2023 Main Event championship.
Winning another Main Event there gave McEwen two WSOP Circuit Tunica Main Event titles and moved him into double digits in career Circuit victories.
He did not remain at 10 rings for long.
McEwen added his 11th Circuit ring at Harrah's Cherokee in May 2026 before returning to the property later in the year for another major result.
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Preston McEwen Wins His 12th WSOP Circuit Ring
McEwen reached another career milestone in August 2026.
On August 12, he won the $1,100 No-Limit Hold'em event at WSOP Circuit Harrah's Cherokee, earning $130,433 and his 12th career Circuit ring.
The result made 2026 one of the strongest seasons of McEwen's career. He began the year with nine rings, won his tenth at Tunica in April, added number 11 at Cherokee in May, and captured number 12 during the August Cherokee series.
PokerOrg reported following the August victory that McEwen had also surpassed $3 million in career tournament earnings.
The official WSOP player database lists him with 12 rings as of August 18, 2026, placing him among the most accomplished Circuit winners of his era.
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RunGood Poker Series Success
McEwen's tournament record is not limited to WSOP events.
He has also developed one of the strongest résumés in RunGood Poker Series competition and has represented RunGood as an ambassador.
PokerNews reported in July 2026 that McEwen had won 11 RGPS events and accumulated $195,673 in earnings on the tour since 2018.
One of his biggest RunGood victories came at Horseshoe Tunica in November 2024. McEwen defeated a 598-entry field in the $600 RGPS Main Event and collected more than $57,000.
That victory was especially fitting given his long history at the property. McEwen grew up playing poker in the Tunica area and has repeatedly produced some of his best tournament results there.
His RunGood record includes victories in both No-Limit Hold'em and Pot-Limit Omaha events, demonstrating success across multiple formats and buy-in levels.
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Deep Runs at the World Series of Poker
Although regional tournaments have produced many of McEwen's titles, he has also made significant runs at the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas.
One of his earliest major national results came in the 2021 WSOP Main Event. McEwen advanced deep into poker's most famous tournament before finishing 57th for $113,800.
He came closer to winning his first bracelet during the 2025 WSOP.
McEwen reached the final four of the $2,500 No-Limit Hold'em Freezeout. His run ended in fourth place for $155,010, while Cary Katz ultimately won the tournament and his first WSOP bracelet.
The finish remains one of McEwen's largest career scores and demonstrated his ability to compete deep into a large-field bracelet event.
As of August 2026, McEwen has not won a WSOP bracelet.
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WPT World Championship Run
McEwen has also recorded a significant result on the World Poker Tour stage.
At the 2024 WPT World Championship at Wynn Las Vegas, he advanced to 33rd place and earned $101,000.
The deep run attracted additional attention to a player whose reputation had largely been built on the regional circuit.
McEwen entered the later stages of the tournament with a substantial stack before eventually being eliminated by San Kim. The result became another six-figure addition to his tournament résumé and reinforced his ability to make deep runs outside the regional events where he plays most frequently.
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Preston McEwen's Major Poker Accomplishments
12 WSOP Circuit rings as of August 18, 2026
More than $3 million in reported career live tournament earnings
Two-time WSOP Circuit Horseshoe Tunica Main Event champion
2023 WSOP Circuit Horseshoe Tunica Main Event winner for $183,653
2026 WSOP Circuit Horseshoe Tunica Main Event winner for $105,270
2026 WSOP Circuit Cherokee $1,100 No-Limit Hold'em winner for $130,433
Fourth place in the 2025 WSOP $2,500 No-Limit Hold'em Freezeout for $155,010
57th place in the 2021 WSOP Main Event for $113,800
33rd place in the 2024 WPT World Championship for $101,000
11 RunGood Poker Series victories as of July 2026
2024 RunGood Poker Series Tunica Main Event champion
RunGood Poker Series ambassador
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Playing Style and Tournament Reputation
McEwen's results identify him primarily as a live tournament specialist with extensive experience in large regional fields.
His success has come across different tournament formats, but No-Limit Hold'em has produced most of his biggest scores. Multiple Circuit Main Event titles, repeated preliminary-event victories, and deep runs at the WSOP and WPT World Championship show a record built on consistency rather than one isolated tournament result.
McEwen has described his background as more exploitative and live-poker oriented while also discussing his efforts to strengthen the mathematical side of his tournament game.
In a 2026 Card Player interview, he said he had spent significant time studying Independent Chip Model concepts with strong online players. ICM is particularly important near tournament final tables because it helps players account for the changing monetary value of chips as payouts increase.
That combination of extensive live experience and continued study has accompanied McEwen's rise through the WSOP Circuit standings.
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Preston McEwen in 2026
The 2026 season has added another important chapter to McEwen's career.
He entered the year with nine WSOP Circuit rings and reached 12 by August. The run included a second Tunica Main Event championship, another victory at Harrah's Cherokee in May, and the $130,433 score that produced ring number 12 in August.
Those results came after years of building a reputation through frequent appearances and victories on the American regional circuit.
McEwen remains an active tournament professional, and his combination of WSOP Circuit success, RunGood titles, major-series deep runs, and more than $3 million in reported live earnings has made him one of the most accomplished players associated with the modern U.S. regional tournament scene.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many WSOP Circuit rings does Preston McEwen have?
Preston McEwen has 12 WSOP Circuit rings as of August 18, 2026. He won his 12th ring in a $1,100 No-Limit Hold'em event at Harrah's Cherokee on August 12, 2026.
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Has Preston McEwen won a WSOP bracelet?
No. The World Series of Poker lists Preston McEwen with zero bracelets as of August 2026. He finished fourth in the 2025 $2,500 No-Limit Hold'em Freezeout for $155,010.
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What is Preston McEwen's biggest live poker tournament cash?
McEwen's largest recorded live tournament cash is $183,653, earned for winning the 2023 WSOP Circuit Horseshoe Tunica Main Event.
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How much has Preston McEwen won playing poker?
PokerOrg reported that Preston McEwen surpassed $3 million in career tournament earnings after winning his 12th WSOP Circuit ring in August 2026. Tournament earnings databases can vary slightly depending on when new results are added.
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How many RunGood Poker Series titles has Preston McEwen won?
PokerNews credited Preston McEwen with 11 RunGood Poker Series victories as of July 2026.
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Where is Preston McEwen from?
Preston McEwen is from Memphis, Tennessee. Much of his tournament career has been centered on poker stops throughout the southeastern United States.
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What did Preston McEwen do before becoming a professional poker player?
Before playing poker professionally, McEwen worked as a touring drummer and traveled throughout North America. He later transitioned into full-time tournament poker.
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When did Preston McEwen win his first WSOP Circuit ring?
McEwen won his first WSOP Circuit ring at Horseshoe Tunica in 2018. He later returned to the property to win WSOP Circuit Main Events in 2023 and 2026.