'My home casino': Rayo Kniep scores elusive WSOPC Main win in Cali

Posted on: October 6, 2025 19:49 PDT

Another incredible WSOP Circuit Main Event at Thunder Valley has come to a close, with one of the most popular players in the area claiming a win as Andreas ‘Rayo’ Kniep has earned his first WSOPC Main Event title and second ring overall.

Kniep went wire-to-wire for the title, bagging the chip lead at the end of each day of play and riding it all the way to the title over 646 entrants, defeating a valiant Ben Primus heads up to claim the $185,458 first prize and a $5,000 package to WSOP Paradise in the Bahamas.

WSOPC Thunder Valley Main Event champion Andreas 'Rayo' Kniep

Backpack full of glasses

“I have to say it was a lot of run good on Day 1 and particularly on Day 3. I’ll take it. It’s always what I say, you have to enjoy the moment when it goes your way, because there will be other moments when it doesn’t go your way, so I’m enjoying this one.”

There may be no Circuit winner all year or in recent memory to enjoy a Main Event triumph more than the energetic German, who now lives in San Francisco.

Known for his vibrant personality and colorful attire, highlighted by neon glasses and beanies, Kniep came prepared, if that winning moment came, bringing a backpack full of glasses for his many friends to wear in his winner’s photo.

Kniep brought plenty of props for his winners photo, just in case

“You know, you always have to be prepared. Maybe it’s happening, and then when it’s happening, it's good to be prepared. It’s funny, because I think in the past I was traveling with more of the pink hats, and then the number of pink hats got reduced in my suitcase because my belief in winning was reduced, but I’m back!”

With many friends here at Thunder Valley to share the moment with, there was one in particular that Kniep was particularly happy to share it with, eight-time Circuit ring winner and WPT World Champion Scott Stewart, whom he bittersweetly eliminated in seventh place.

“I think on the final table there was only one hope I had, other than winning, which was to be heads-up with 'YaboyStu' (Scott Stewart), because if you beat the champ, you are the champ, so that was the one thing I was missing was to beat the champ, but I took him out at least. I hope he forgives me.”

SPECIAL OFFERS

At long last

As mentioned, the ring is Kniep’s second overall and first in a WSOP Circuit Main Event after a multitude of close calls, including four runner-up finishes and a pair of seventh-place scores in WSOPC Main Events. With so many near misses, this win is even sweeter for him, and one he thought was possible.

“I think this was a final table for the first time that I had a feeling that I could do it. I don’t know why, maybe rungood, not many hands that (got me) out of rhythm. But the funny thing was, I got to heads-up and I realized that was five times heads-up for the ring and I only won once, and then suddenly I realized, oh no, this might not happen again. He’s a good opponent, Ben. I guess I was lucky again. I’ll take the four seconds to win the Main Event for sure.”

Ben Primus was Kniep's final opponent en route to the title

Adding even more to Kniep’s excitement over the win was that it came at Thunder Valley. While Kniep is a regular in the California and Western part of the Circuit, this particular room holds special meaning to him.

“Thunder Valley feels like my home casino. The first time I played serious poker, the first time I ever made any money, and had deep runs. I never won a tournament here, so it feels like I won at the place I consider home from a poker perspective. Winning at the place where you have friends around that celebrate you when you win feels so much better. It feels like a home game.”