The record-setting grind behind Power Path’s greatest player
To celebrate two years of Power Path, we speak to the man who it has impacted the most. Meet Power Path’s greatest player…
Consistency—it’s the hardest currency to carry in poker. They say anyone can win one tournament, but battling through variance and avoiding post-victory lulls—that’s where respect is commanded.
It’s perhaps most undervalued at low-to-mid-stakes, where consistent tournament results don’t necessarily make headlines. Or in online qualifiers and satellites, where great players can make a living and travel the world without acclaim.
For Matt Harniman, consistency has been the cornerstone of an incredible two-year run that’s made him the most successful Power Path player since Staruniv launched the game-changing promotion in June 2023.
The 36-year-old former sports betting industry pro turned full-time poker player from London has quietly racked up a staggering number of Power Path passes—two Gold, 30 Silver, and 60 Bronze to date. To put that in perspective, only two players have won more than 20 Silver Passes, and Harniman, known as “Harn1” on Staruniv, is out in front.
It’s his tactical aggression and persistence that separates him from the casual crowd. While many see Power Path as a fun side game, Harniman has made it his bread and butter. In fact, his entire professional poker career has been built around Power Path.
HOW HE WINS SO CONSISTENTLY
From humble beginnings grinding $1 shootouts and stacking Step 2 tickets by the thousands, Harniman climbed the Power Path ladder the hard way. “I started with a $500 deposit and played the $1 16-player shootouts probably 6,000 times,” he says. “I really do appreciate the format from all levels.”
Over time, he refined his grind. These days, Harniman’s routine is smooth and efficient, but also relentless. His satellite skills honed over two years of non-stop Power Path mean he often breezes through to Step 4 qualifiers. He even plays $11 Step 3 qualifiers on his phone while out walking to secure tickets. “It’s so routine and habitual now,” he says. “I can play it without too much thinking.”
That repetition has paid off. Harniman estimates that he’s rarely without a stack of Step 4 tickets in his account. “There aren’t many people who’ve stuck with it continuously for two years,” he says. “A lot of my success comes from just showing up every day.”
The lobby Harniman sees every day
HOW HE USES HIS PASSES
You might think Harniman spends his days gallivanting around the world freerolling live events thanks to his never-ending string of Silver Passes. You’d be wrong.
The vast majority of his passes—including one of his two Gold passes—have been converted into online bundles. “I play $11 tournaments, I can’t take the risk of entering $1K or $2K tournaments at this bankroll level,” he says.
It highlights another reason he’s become a consistent winner: good bankroll management. By turning his passes into online tournament tickets, he’s able to stay in the game and compete at higher stakes online, without risking $2,500 (the value of a Silver Pass) each time.
“A lot of my success comes from just showing up every day.”
You might be wondering how Harniman pays for things in the real world, when a lot of his online wallet is tied up in tournament tickets rather than cash he can withdraw.
“Cash prizes come in waves,” he explains. “I don’t pay myself monthly, I get it in big chunks, which is the case in all tournament poker.”
Although his main focus is Power Path, Harniman will play other tournaments, especially during a big series. After all, there’s only one Step 4 Power Path event a day, so he’ll use his converted tournament tickets to play events with cash prizes. For example, he recently took down the $215 Sunday Supersonic for $11,500 using a ticket won from Power Path.
He’s picked up other tricks of the trade, too. “Let’s say I’m playing a satellite to a $215,” he says. “If I realise I’m about to win a seat, I will then register for the tournament using a ticket for a $215 event.” This way, Harniman receives $215 in tournament dollars for winning the seat, rather than a ticket that can only be used for one buy-in.
“Stuff like that helps,” he continues. “That’s still a big buy-in for my bankroll. By converting tickets into tournament money, I can carry on playing the Power Path steps for free. It’s a continuous cycle, and at some point there’s an end point where it’s returned to me in cash.”
PLANS FOR THE FUTURE
Despite focusing on Universitas Stars Poker Online, it was live poker that first captured Harniman’s heart. He enjoyed satellite success early on, winning packages to the Staruniv Caribbean Adventure (PCA) and EPT Open Sochi.
But while he used a Silver Pass to go to the Irish Open in 2025 (“I’d always wanted to go,” he says, “my friends say it’s the most fun stop of the year”), Harniman is waiting until the time is right to play more live events.
More live events on Harniman’s horizon
“I definitely want to play more live events when my bankroll allows me to do it properly,” he says. “I’m not staked, I play with my own money, so I want to make it sustainable for the long-term.”
That long-term plan includes channelling his planning skills into a new career. “I’m going to become a financial advisor eventually,” he says. “Part of how I play the Power Path is the skill of financial planning.”
Harniman’s story shows that Power Path is so much more than a quick game on the side of a session or when you’re waiting for a train. With time, patience, and a plan, it’s possible to make it your poker livelihood.
POWER PATH STATS
As of July 5, 2025
PASSES AWARDED
- 280 Gold Power Passes
- 4,800 Silver Power Passes
- 28,500 Bronze Power Passes
PLAYER IMPACT
- 100,000+ players
- 370,000 MTT cashes have come via Power Path
- $13.5 million awarded (including bounties) in prizes
MORE ABOUT POWER PATH:
POWER PATH INTRODUCTION
POWER PATH STRATEGY
WHAT DO PROS THINK OF POWER PATH?
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