Andrew ‘luckychewy’ Lichtenberger is a young rising star in the world of poker and is a much feared High Stakes pro who is known to crush tournaments as well as cash games. Andrew exclusively used to play Heads Up cash games online and has proven to be a well-rounded player, considering that he has succeeded in various forms of No Limit games. His persistence and devotion to learn poker paid off well when he won over a million dollars online even before he was old enough to play in live events. At an early age, Lichtenberger had already established himself worldwide as a dangerous opponent in short-handed tournament circuits all around the world.
Born on September 20th, 1987 in East Northport, New York, Andrew Lichtenberger attended Northport High School and was a competitive bowler. Already as a teenager, he even bowled a 289 game. The only job he ever had was organizing children birthday parties at a bowling alley.
He started playing poker when he was 18, while attending Stony Brook University in New York. Andrew admits that he was not a winning player and that he lost slowly but steadily for the first year or so. During his 2nd semester at Stony Brook University, because he still had not chosen a major, it left a negative impact on his education which resulted in his academic probation. It was then that Andrew discovered the 2p2 forums which made him realize that there were people earning their living by playing poker. He decided to drop out of college in order to dedicate his time to studying and playing poker.
Lichtenberger is considered by many as a star in the online poker world, and is known as an even tougher cash game player. Initially he started playing Texas Hold’em and Pot Limit Omaha games and was very quickly found himself progressing to nose-bleed stakes. He also turned his focus to tournament play and has had some very impressive live and online results since.
In 2009, Lichtenberger placed 18th in the $10,000 World Championship No Limit Hold’em and banked a stunning $500,557 in the 40th WSOP Main Event. Andrew was also a 2nd runner-up in the $5,000 No Limit Hold’em Shootout and accumulated a solid $215,402 at the same event.
“It as an extremely surreal feeling and I am unbelievably fortunate to have done so well right off the bat at my first WSOP. I have always felt I am one of, if not the best, tournament players, so to do well in my first series felt incredible.â€
In 2010, Andrew took down a tough final table and land the first spot in the $5,000 No Limit Hold’em Main Event at the WSOP Circuit – Caesers Palace for an amazing $190,137. Lichtenberger finished 2nd place in the Mix-Max No Limit Hold’em Epic Poker League Event 3 for a huge win of $514,480.
2012 was definitely a very good year for Lichtenberger as he won a total of $768,586 from live poker alone. As of January 2013, Andrew’s total earnings amount to over $2,966,072. In December 2012, he sealed a 5th place in the $10,000 No Limit Hold’em Championship Event and pocketed a whopping $234,197 at WPT Five Diamond World Poker Classic. Andrew also secured a 5th place in the 2012 WSOP Europe Pot Limit Omaha Six Handed Event #6. He acquired a cool $2,327,114, including all tournament winnings, with 3 first place finishes. Andrew currently ranks 5th on the GPI.
He aspires to keep doing what he’s been doing so far and continue to succeed and improve at the limits he has been playing. His goal has always been to win big live tournaments, but he considers it as less of an aspiration as opposed to something which will eventually happen anyway.
When he isn’t playing poker, Lichtenberger can be found making instructional videos and coaching poker players. As he admits himself,
“I like the opportunity to be considered strong enough at poker to be able to have an essential ‘job’ to teach others how to play as well as I do.â€
Andrew enjoys travelling, bowling and basketball, and he currently resides in Las Vegas.
