Benefield has been part of the online and live poker scene for years, and despite announcing to the community that he was quitting poker in 2009 to start a new part of his life, he's managed to rack up well over $600,000 in live tournament earnings.
Known as “Raptor” online Benefield was a coach at Cardrunners.com and a successful online cash-game player.
Benefield branched out from poker to study Chinese and Political Studies but it's a good thing he decided to return to the tables since he's already guaranteed $733,224.
Benefield enters November's final in second-last place with 8,575,000 chips.
After playing competitive baseball up until his senior year in high school Benefield discovered poker and it's been a huge part of his life ever since.
Benefield has cashed at the World Series of Poker 12 times before but he's already guaranteed his biggest score at the WSOP, and his biggest overall.
Raptor's largest poker windfall before this came in 2012 when he finished 8th at the High Roller event at the World Series of Poker Europe in Cannes.
Nationality: USA Age: 27 Hometown: Arlington, Texas Online Nickname: Raptor Career Live/Online Earnings: $633,243/Unknown Biggest Previous Live Cash: $150,035 - 8th in 2012 WSOP Europe High Roller Twitter Handle: @DWBenefieldVisit www.pokerlistings.com