Poker is one of the oldest casino games and shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon. Nowadays, poker is considered to be one of the most popular live casino games in the world, with many professional and novice players now able to compete for some incredible cash prizes.
But unlike other games, naming the top players in the poker industry can be a pretty tricky feat simply because there are dozens of legendary players worthy of consideration!
These five renowned poker players stand out from the competition for all the right reasons.
1. Johnny Moss
In the grand history of the game of poker, there are very few people who have achieved more than Johnny Moss.
As the proclaimed “grandfather of poker”, Johnny Moss is viewed as one of the most significant poker players of his generation. To call him legendary does not do justice to his skill.
He was the first poker player to ever clinch the WSOP title and remains one of the very few people to have won the World Series of Poker Main Event a total of three times!
Moss was a road gambler and his total cash winnings cannot be fully determined. In addition to his three Main Event titles, Moss also won nine WSOP bracelets and a total of $1.25 million in tournament winnings!
He has also been inducted into the first ever Poker Hall of Fame to recognize his amazing contributions to the game of poker.
2. Doyle Brunson
When you think of professional poker it’s easy to associate the game with Doyle Brunson.
This Texas poker legend started as an NBA prospect and a college basketball star but quickly turned his attention to poker after suffering a career-ending injury.
Throughout his 50-year playing history, Brunson has been regarded as one of the most influential poker players in the world. He is renowned for his natural feel for the game of poker, his instinct, and his general experience of seeing thousands of hands.
In addition to snapping up ten WSOP coveted bracelets, the “godfather of poker” has also won the Main Event twice (in 1976 and 1977) — showing just how much skill he possessed. He also held the record for the oldest winner of a poker tour event aged 71 back in 2004!
3. Phil Hellmuth
Another renowned poker player is Phil Hellmuth. However, no player has ever been quite so polarizing. Nicknamed “the Poker brat” for his bratty behavior during poker games, this player achieved fame at a very young age and became the youngest ever World Series champ with this victory.
Poker was one of the games that Hellmuth played at university in 1985. Since then, he has dominated poker’s most prestigious event, the WSOP. For example, no other player has accumulated more than ten WSOP bracelets – but Hellmuth has 15.
He is also the winner of the Main Event of the 1989 WSOP and the Main Event of the 2012 World Series of Poker Europe (WSOPE). He is also a 2007 inductee of the WSOP’s Poker Hall of Fame. Overall, Hellmuth is regarded as one of the most talented tournament players to grace the sport.
4. Phil Ivey
There’s quite literally never been a better all-around poker player than Phil Ivey. Some have referred to him as the Tiger Woods of Poker but the high-roller stands out himself for all of the right reasons.
He was the hottest and most feared player in the poker game during the poker boom era in the early 2000s. Even now, the competition doesn’t even come close to having the same influence that Ivey had at this time!
He managed to win ten WSOP bracelets even before becoming eligible for the Poker Hall of Fame – his first bracelet win happening at just 23 years old – and has also won one World Poker Title. He’s also appeared at nine World Poker Tour final tables.
Ivey is also the only professional poker player to have crushed online high-stakes cash games and live tournaments, earning over $20 million in profits for his efforts.
5. Erik Seidel
Eric Seidel may not get as much media attention as other poker players, largely because he isn’t an attention seeker, but there’s no stopping this world-class professional.
The New York native has quietly dominated the game of poker over the past three decades, achieving many amazing wins and solidifying a consistent performance on the high roller circuit. While many other players have crashed and burned, Seidel continues to dominate into his 60s.
Specifically, Seidel is an eight-time WSOP bracelet winner who has made 35 final tables in his career including his iconic 2nd place finish in the 1988 WSOP Main Event behind player Johnny Chan.
In addition to his WSOP achievements, this player has numerous trophies from other prestigious poker series. He was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2010.
Summary
That concludes our article highlighting 5 renowned poker players of all time! Whether you’re looking at their achievements or their approach to playing, there’s no arguing that each of these players has made their mark in the poker industry.