Perhaps one of the most underrated poker pros in the game, Amnon Filippi was one of a handful of “known” players remaining in the 2012 World Series of Poker Main Event on Day 6. For those who are huge fans of the game, it came as no surprise that Filippi was in such a position.

Learning the game as he grew up in New York City, which he still calls home, Filippi transitioned first to the underground card clubs of his hometown before making his way to the battlegrounds of Atlantic City. Found there by poker veteran Paul Darden, Filippi found a tutor to teach him the nuances of the tournament poker game. After that, Filippi was off to find his fortune on the tournament poker circuit.

Although he has never won a major tournament, his success on the felt dates back to 2003 with his first cash at the United States Poker Championships. He went on to earn 11 cashes on the World Poker Tour (including three final tables) and, prior to 2012, had cashed in 20 WSOP events, including a fourth place finish in the 2007 $50,000 HORSE Championship.

The 2012 WSOP was a great one for the New York pokercommunity standout. Coming into the Main Event, Filippi had earned five more cashes for his poker resume. He came into Day 6 in 17th place with 3.4 million chips, but couldn’t gain any traction from there. He eventually pushed in his short stack with Q-9, only to find Paul Volpe willing to look him up with K-J. Once the board ran dry, Filippi was gone from the tournament in 39th place.

The $191,646 payday gave Filippi a rare achievement in the world of tournament poker. With his take from the WSOP Main Event, Filippi’s career earnings passed the $3 million mark ($3,024,630, to be exact). As of July 2012, he was one of only 187 players to have earned that much in their careers from tournament poker. It shouldn’t come as any surprise if Filippi adds to that mark in the future.