Top 6 Best Poker Players of All Time
Despite being one of the most complex casino games around, the best poker players have defied all odds and greatly excelled at the game
To excel at playing poker means that you are winning at the table and winning in your bank account as well.
The all-time best poker players hold various impressive records. These range from the huge amounts of money they have made, the long hours they have played, and other notable title wins.
The professional players noted here include those with the highest cash wins, world series wins, among others. In no particular order, here are 5 of the best poker players of all time
1. Justin Bonomo
Also known as ZeeJustin, Bonomo is an American high-stakes professional poker player and one of the most celebrated ones of all time. His record includes 55 cashes and 19 final tables. He has also won 3 bracelets and 1 circuit ring in his career.
The 35-year-old poker player is the second highest-earning live tournament player of all time, winning over $48,508,778 by 2019.
2. Doyle Brunson
Doyle, a now-retired American professional poker player, was the first to win $1 million in poker tournaments. He is also a two-time World Series of Poker champion.
The 87-year-old poker legend who started off playing poker illegally is now one of the most recognized names in the game. Doyle has authored several books on poker and is also a Poker Hall of fame inductee.
He has an impressive 10 bracelets, 26 final tables, and 37 Money finishes.
3. Johnny Moss
Johnny Moss was the first winner of the World Series of Poker main event. Just like Doyle Brunson, he is also an inductee in the Poker Hall of fame. Johnny Moss was a gambler that traveled the US looking for where he’d place his next bet.
His 5 months long “heads up” poker marathon with Nick the Greek in 1949 is considered one of the best stories in poker.
It is also the inspiration behind Al Alvarez’s book “The Biggest Game in Town,” one every poker player should read.
There is some controversy around this game as some claim that it never took place. That is mainly because there was no media or recorded coverage of this game, only the stories told about it.
Nonetheless, Johnny Moss won 9 bracelets and 25 money finishes on top of his main event wins of 1970, 1971, and 1974.
4. Phil Hellmuth
Phil Hellmuth is another American professional poker player with a record 15 World Series of Poker bracelets. He is also a notable Hall of Famer.
Now 56 years old, his professional poker accomplishments include 64 final tables and 165 money finishes. The live tournament winnings exceed $24 million.
5. Phil Ivey
Phil Ivey comes in as “the best all-round player” in the world of professional poker. The 44-year-old American professional player has won 10 World Series of Poker bracelets and has 1 World Poker Tour final under his belt.
Phil Ivey was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2017. No wonder he is also famously called the “Tiger Woods” of poker, with 10 final tables and 59 Money finishes to his name.
He is ranked on several lists as one of the richest poker players with a projected $100 million.
Phil runs a “Phil Ivey MasterClass” where he teaches players how to maneuver the game at both beginner and professional levels.
6. David Negreanu
Famously known as “Kid Poker,” is currently one of the most successful poker players of all time. His resume includes 6 bracelets and 2 World Poker Tour championships on the World Poker Tour.
David holds several poker records and has won over $40,000,000 in live poker tournaments, the 3rd of all time. He is also a Poker Hall of Fame inductee as of 2014.
Conclusion
Professional poker players who make it to the highest level like these often stay at the game for a long time. They have played in multiple World Series and Poker World Tours. Most of them now focus on breaking their previous records.
Top Poker players get to be some of the wealthiest people in the world of gambling. So, every aspiring poker player ought to look up to these legends and pick up a few tips.
