Juha Helppi is a poker pro who was born on March 4, 1977 in Turku, Finland but currently lives in Helsinki, Finland with his girlfriend and a baby boy. He took up a job as a casino dealer, and that's where he learnt to play live as well as internet poker. He improved his poker skills by playing online at Paradise Poker and reading Hold'em Poker for Advanced Players by David Sklansky and Mason Malmuth. Juha Helppi, who takes the “Ready, Aim, Fire” approach to poker tournaments, was in the money quite often.
On October 10, 2002 in the World Poker Tour (WPT) No-Limit Hold’em of the Ultimate Poker Classic WPT Season 1/Caribbean Poker Classic, Juha Helppi finished first and took home a big booty of $50,000. Another notable winning of Juha Helppi for the year 2002 came on December 14, when he won $13,215 by finishing fourth in the No-Limit Hold’em event of the Helsinki Freezeout Tournament. He played in Event 5 - No-Limit Hold'em at the 34th Annual WSOP Tournament held on April 19, 2003, ranked fourth, and went home richer by $45,420. Towards the end of the same year, on December 19, he finished fourth in the No-Limit Hold'em event of the WPT Battle of the Champions 1 Tournament to earn $20,000. In Event 4 World Poker Open (WPO) No-Limit Hold’em of the 5th Annual Jack Binion World Poker Open - WPT Season 2 held on January 11, 2004, Juha Helppi secured fourth rank and walk away with $24,780. By finishing second, he bagged another $200,000 from the No-Limit Hold'em of the Monte Carlo Millions Tournament on November 11, the same year.
The Limit Hold’em event of LA Poker Classic/WPT Event Season 3 was held on February 12, 2005, and Juha Helppi was one of the participants. In the event, he secured the 3rd rank to walk away with a huge booty of $114,589. Another major accomplishment for Juha Helppi came on April 24, 2005, when he claimed $113,225 in the WPT Main Event No-Limit Hold’em of the Five-Star World Poker Classic - WPT Championship Season 3. On July 29, 2005, in the WPT Main Event – No-Limit Hold’em of the Rendevous a Paris – WPT Season 4, Juha Helppi proved his prowess at poker by finishing second and taking home a whopping sum of $333,895.
Another instance when Juha Helppi was in the money was on February 21, 2006 in Event 28 WPT No-Limit Hold’em Championship of the LA Poker Classic/WPT Event Season 4, from which he earned $59,789. The No-Limit Hold’em Championship of the Five-Star World Poker Classic - WPT Championship Season 4 held on April 24, 2006, saw him walk away with $43,395. In Event 34 No-Limit Hold’em of the 37th Annual WSOP held on July 23, 2006, Juha Helppi ranked second to take home a princely sum of $331,144. He would cherish the memories of the Pot-Limit Soko event of the Midnight Sun Poker Tournament held on June 9, 2007, for he ranked first to take home $36,055. A yet another first-place finish for him came on June 27, 2007 in Event 17 No-Limit Hold’em of the Bellagio Cup III, in which he increased his bankroll by $85,120. The No-Limit Hold’em event of Midnight Sun Poker Tournament held on June 2, 2008, in which he potted $49,450, is another instance of a first-place finish for Juha Helppi.
Juha Helppi was a soccer player and also a high-level paintball player. He was the captain of the Finnish national paintball champions.
