Joshua McSwiney is a professional poker player from Brisbane, Australia. Since the early 2020s, he has been making waves in the Australian poker scene, building a reputation as the next big superstar. This report delves into McSwiney’s poker journey, career highlights, winnings, and what makes him a rising star in Australian poker.
Joshua McSwiney’s Early Life and Poker Career
While little is known about Joshua McSwiney’s early life, he was born and raised in Brisbane, Australia. He began his live poker journey in early 2018, though he may have played online poker before transitioning to live tournaments. To date, McSwiney has cashed in over 65 live tournaments, amassing lifetime earnings exceeding $800,000.
Joshua McSwiney’s Poker Winnings and Career Highlights
McSwiney’s first live cash came in 2018 when he finished in the money at the 2018 APL Million Main Event, earning $2,157. Later that year, he secured a runner-up finish at the 2018 DeepStack Sydney 6-Max, taking home $3,885. His first live victory came in January 2019 when he won the Quarterly Poker Championship Super High Roller, claiming the top prize of $11,909.
In 2020, McSwiney made a strong start by securing a podium finish at the Aussie Millions Poker Championship Deep Freeze, earning an impressive $47,702. He followed this with another victory at the Quarterly Poker Championship A$3,000 Challenge, winning $13,503.
Two years later, in 2022, McSwiney expanded his horizons by traveling internationally to compete in tournaments. His first trip to the United States saw him cash in the Wynn Summer Classic $1,100 NLH, earning $5,535. He later finished sixth in the WSOP Online Circuit $215 Monster Stack, collecting $6,403. That summer, he also made his first World Series of Poker (WSOP) final table, finishing sixth in Event #53: $5K Mixed NLH/PLO for a career-high (at the time) $120,165.
Following multiple cashes in the U.S., McSwiney returned to Australia in 2023 and claimed victory in the Poker Palace Spring Championships Main Event, earning $56,060.
McSwiney’s Recent Success in 2024 & 2025
In 2024, McSwiney competed in WPT Cambodia, securing three money finishes and collecting over $20,000. His biggest victory of the year came in October when he won the Adelaide Poker Festival 2024 Main Event, earning $48,885. He later traveled to Europe, finishing 16th in the EPT Prague Main Event, adding $49,935 to his earnings.
2025 is turning out to be a breakout year for him with already multiple cash to his name. Just last month, his career reached new heights in 2025 when he triumphed at the WPT Prime Gold Coast Main Event, outlasting a field of 1,106 entries to secure his career-best payday of $177,680. Alongside the prestigious WPT trophy, McSwiney earned a $10,400 seat in the 2025 WPT World Championship, further cementing his status as a rising poker star.
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