Shannon Shorr has been on the grind for years. He’s got two WSOP online bracelets, an online ring, and plenty of deep runs and titles to his name. But until now, he’d never claimed a live WSOP title. That changed in Event #15: $1,700 No Limit Hold'em Main Event at the World Series of Poker Circuit at Horseshoe Las Vegas.
“Feeling great,” Shorr said after the win. “A lot of hours spent inside these WSOP venues trying to capture one. And here we are.”
The event drew 774 entries across three Day 1 flights, creating a $1,172,610 prize pool. Out of those, 135 players made it to Day 2, with 117 finishing in the money. For Shorr, this win meant even more because it happened close to home. “I’ve been traveling less and less. I have two young kids, so it’s been cutting down on the travel and playing,” he explained. “Thankfully, a lot of stuff has been coming through here in Vegas locally, so I’ve been playing a lot of those. But yeah, super sweet to win in Las Vegas.”
Over the years, his approach to the game—and life—has evolved. “I’m super motivated to play now,” he said. “Having to provide for two kids... this is what I do to put food on the table. Ever since I had kids, I’ve been really zoned in—breath work, neuroplasticity training, ice baths. Really giving poker my all, and it’s really nice to see it come to fruition.”
Final table payouts
- Shannon Shorr – $207,615
- Jordyn Miller – $138,394
- John Longowa – $96,751
- Emily Xie – $68,751
- Evan Sandberg – $49,672
- Michael Johnson – $36,499
- Dennis Yoder – $27,283
- Terry Fleischer – $20,753
- Tomas Szwardberg – $16,070
A lifestyle shift and a big momentum swing
A big part of his recent lifestyle change came in the form of a no-alcohol bet. “I did 2024 no alcohol, myself. After waking up hungover on January 2nd, I decided to go the whole year without drinking. And I made it. My parents were just in town, I had a couple of drinks here and there, and on special occasions, I may have one, but generally, I’m over alcohol. I don’t think it serves me too well.”
Shorr’s tournament journey had ups and downs, but a key moment came before the money bubble. “I had a lot of chips going into Day 2, but things just went terribly. I was getting roughed up, and then I got a big bluff through versus a Spanish regular on the bubble. That was big for momentum. After that, I just got completely run over by the deck, had five times the average stack at one point, and everything just kind of fell into place.”
The final table was a battle, and Shannon Shorr had to navigate a mix of seasoned professionals and lesser-known players. “There were some players I played quite a bit with online—Michael Berk, Jordyn Miller, and Evan Sandberg. Those guys are very tough. Terry , I played a bit with around town, and the others I didn’t have too much experience with. But yeah, everybody kind of fought in their own way, and it was a super good time.”
A long-awaited victory, and looking ahead
When asked about his strategy in live events, Shorr emphasized adaptability. “One of the things about live poker is you just have to figure stuff out very quickly. You may only see one showdown here or there, and that will give you a glimpse into how a certain player is thinking. That’s why I always stress to players—you really need to pay attention, particularly if you don’t know people at the table. Just trying to use the information I had, which was very limited, to try to exploit them.”
Going into the summer, Shannon Shorr plans to keep a full schedule but will balance it with family life. “Nice to live here and just be able to commute down,” he said. “I’ll definitely be playing quite a bit. As I mentioned, I have two kids, so I’m increasingly trying to skip some spots here and there just to get more family time. But yeah, especially the big No Limit events—that’s really what gets me going.”
After so many years of grinding, Shannon Shorr finally has a live WSOP title under his belt. And for someone who has accomplished so much in the game, this win carries special weight. “Definatly one of the highlights of my career. I really enjoyed myself,” he said. “This one means a lot. It’s been a long time coming, and I’m glad I finally got it done.”
, and Miller was sent to the rail in second place after an incredible run. 
