Unlike many other sports, naming the greatest poker player of all time can be difficult. Identifying what makes a successful poker player can be tough because of the nature of the game. You can rank these players based on their winnings. However, we believe that winnings aren’t the only factor that characterizes a successful poker player.
As a result, we compiled a list of the greatest poker players of all time in our opinion. We took into account the players:
- Playing style
- Demeanor
- Wits
- Use of strategy
- Decision-making
- Accomplishments
Who is the greatest poker player of all time?
Do you want to become the greatest poker player in a Live casino in Singapore? If so, you can get inspiration from these best professional players that made history. Please keep in mind that this isn’t a comprehensive list, and we don’t aim to leave out any other outstanding players. Here are the top 10 greatest poker players of all time:
Poker Player #1. Doyle Brunson (Texas, Dolly)
The first poker player on our list is one that stood the test of time. Aged 88, Doyle Brunson has been a professional poker player for more than 50 years now. Throughout his impressive career, he has garnered plenty of victories.
The most notable of them is his ten World Series of Poker bracelets, including the Main Event in 1976 and 1977. In addition, he even made it to the final table of the WSOP at the age of 84. In 2004, Doyle Brunson set the record for the oldest winner of a Poker Tour event at the age of 71.
Brunson’s WSOP Final Table at age 84 – Greatest Poker Player
Brunson even made a WSOP final table at the age of 84 in 2018. He is a well-known poker player who is a fixture on televised cash games. In addition, he is also one of the famous old poker players in gambling history. Doyle Brunson has earned $6.2 million in the tournament throughout his career.
Brunson’s success stems from his:
- Instincts
- Natural feel for the game
- Years of watching hundreds of hands
Brunson is an accomplished author as well as a great player. Moreover, his poker strategy book, Super/System: A Course in Power Poker, revolutionized the game. Nowadays, he is a frequent Twitter poster and has a sharp wit.
Brunson was admitted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 1988, and he was regarded as a gentleman at the table by many.
Is Doyle Brunson alive?
Yes, this famous old poker player is very much alive and kicking. The Godfather of Poker entered the $10,000 buy-in No-limit Hold’em World Championship, last November 2021 at the Rio. This is the first starting flight of the Main Event.
Best Poker Pro #2: Johnny Moss – The Grandfather of Poker
If you’re ever referred to as the “Grandfather of Poker,” you know it’s a big deal. Johnny Moss was a road gambler from Texas, and the amount of money he won is unknown. He has tournament earnings as a professional poker player:
- Three Main Event crowns
- Nine WSOP bracelets
- $1.25 million
Even though poker has come a long way since those early days of the WSOP, Moss was a top performer at the table. Although there were only seven players at the 1970 event at Binion’s Horseshoe, Moss was declared champion by his peers.
A year later, when the tournament format was newly implemented, he also won. In 1974, Johnny Moss won his third Main Event title. However, he made a name for himself at the tables when getting big-money action wasn’t as easy as it is now.
Moss was elected into the Hall of Fame in 1979 and died in 1995 at the age of 88. Some of the game’s forefathers and contemporaries remember him as a fearless Poker player.
Best Current Poker Professional #3: Phil Hellmuth – The Poker Brat
Popularly known as the Poker Brat, Phil Hellmuth is one of the greatest poker players of all time. Whether you love him or not, still, it takes a lot of ability to win 15 WSOP bracelets and nearly $23 million in tournament earnings.
Phil Hellmuth rose to prominence at an early age. With this triumph, the 24-year-old became the youngest World Series champion in history. Phil has been establishing himself and “maintaining the brand” since the beginning. Poker has always been a part of Hellmuth’s life (he played with his family as a young teen).
Moreover, Hellmuth is also the only person to win both a WSOP Main Event in Las Vegas (1989) and a WSOP Main Event in Europe (2012). Looks like nobody can stop him, because Hellmuth had a fantastic summer in 1993, winning three bracelets.
Tournament Results and Biggest Cashes
- 2012 WSOP $1,000,000 Big One For One Drop– he finishes fourth place and won $2,645,333.
- 2016 Super High Roller Bowl $300,000 No-Limit Hold’em– Hellmuth finishes fourth place and won $1,600,000.
- 2012 WSOP Europe $10,000 Main Event– Phil finishes first place and won $1,022,376.
- 2011 WSOP $50,000 Poker Players Championship– he finishest 2nd place and take home $1,063,034.
- 1989 WSOP $10,000 Main Event– Phil finishes first and takes home $755,000.
Hellmuth has five final table appearances on the WPT. However, Phil Hellmuth hasn’t yet been added to the Champions Cup. Although he came close in 2017 when he finished second at the Bicycle Casino’s Legends of Poker.
In recent years, the WPT title become one of his aspirations in the poker industry.
Furthermore, Hellmuth is also the author of numerous successful gambling books. He is also a regular in televised cash games, in addition to his titles and victories. Aside from his table antics, the “Poker Brat” is still one of the game’s biggest stars. Moreover, he is also one of the toughest players with a keen understanding of the game.
Greatest Poker Players of all time #4: Justin Bonomo: ZeeJustin
ZeeJustin is one of the biggest earners and greatest poker players, with $44.6 million in prizes. Justin Bonomo’s supremacy in the game of poker appears to be only beginning at the age of 34. Starting in 2016, he has won 18 major tournaments. One of his most significant victories was the $1 million Big One for One Drop at the WSOP, which he won for $10 million. In addition, this victory swiftly propelled him to #1 on the All-Time Money List.
Bonomo uses his excellent game sense and brains to beat the best players in the world.
At the age of 35, Bonomo had an incredible year in 2018, winning nearly everywhere he went. That year, he also won ten high-roller events around the world, including the:
- May Aria Super High Roller Bowl $300,000 NLHE event, in which he won $5 million
- Macau Super High Roller Bowl $HK 3 million NLHE event, in which he won another $4.8 million (HK $37.8 million).
Bonomo doesn’t appear to be slowing down any time soon. Furthermore, Justin Bonomo is well-known for his live tournaments as well as his online competitions. By the age of 21, he had won hundreds of thousands of dollars after playing poker since he was 16 years old. Also, he was one of the first players to acquire fame in the early days of online poker. He becomes one of the top Sit&Go players on Party Poker and won the Sunday Million on Poker Stars.
Best Player in Poker #5: Daniel Negreanu – The Kid Poker
Daniel Negreanu, also known as “Kid Poker,” has been playing poker since before the year 2000. He also holds the record for the most money won in a live poker tournament. Besides, he is also the first individual to be named WSOP Player of the Year twice.
Daniel’s Current Feats:
- 6 WSOP Bracelets
- 2 WPT titles
- $33 Million in tournament earnings
Looks like Daniel is not stopping anytime soon.
Best Current Poker Player #6: Daniel Colman – MRGR33N13
Daniel Colman is indeed the greatest poker player in history.
Although he never had a title, Daniel Colman has already accumulated almost $29 million in revenue. In addition, Colman has a WSOP bracelet to his name despite being only 30 years old, but he has yet to win a WPT crown.
On The Big One for One Drop, Colman managed to knock Daniel Negreanu, the Kid Poker, out of the competition. Then, he wins almost $15.3 million. Colman is most known for playing online poker under the alias “mrGR33N13”. Therefore, we can anticipate him to contribute more in the coming years.
Best Poker Icon #7: Phil Ivey – Tiger Woods of Poker
Despite the rumors of cheating, Phil Ivey remains the greatest poker player in the world. In the early 2000s, he was the hottest young player. In addition, he won his first WSOP bracelet at the age of 23 and three more in one summer in 2002.
His total live tournament winnings exceed $26 million. Whatever one’s opinion of the man’s problems, he has ten WSOP bracelets. In addition, Phil Ivey also holds a WPT title and the respect and affection of his colleagues.
Famous Player in Poker #8: Bryn Kenney – Mega Crusher
This list would undoubtedly include the number one spot on the all-time money list. Bryn Kenney has over $56 million in live earnings, putting him in the first place. Besides, his abilities allow him to consistently finish the game.
Kenney began his poker career in 2007. He entered his first event after growing up playing the Magic: The Gathering card game. Over the years, he proceeded to win larger and larger stakes until he had won millions. Furthermore, Kenney was runner-up in a $1 million Triton event in 2019, earning $20.5 million.
Best Poker Professional #9: Dan Smith – The Cowboy Dan
Popularly known as Cowboy Dan, Smith is one of the greatest poker players who dropped out of college. So, he can pursue his dream of being a professional poker player. Needless to say, he made it all worthwhile.
Aside from his $33 million in live tournament earnings, he is also a remarkable skill and experience as player. Dan Smith is also famous for his charity effort, which sets him apart from other players. In addition, he established the Double Up Drive, which allows poker players to help individuals in need. Moreover, he also receives a lot of support from his peers.
Great Poker Icon #10: Fedor Holz – The CrownUpGuy
For this German poker sensation, million-dollar wins have become a way of life. Holz was a dominant online player in the 2010s. He won numerous tournaments and is regarded as one of the best online players in the world. This includes a $1.3 million championship in an online event.
Furthermore, Holz has had a lot of success at the live poker tables as well. In 2015, he came at 25th place for $262,574 in the WSOP Main Event. Moreover, Fedor Holz also benefited from large buy-in events.
In 2016, he won a $3.1 million Triton Super High Roller and followed it up with a $3.5 million runner-up result in the Super High Roller Bowl the following year. Similarly, he also won a WSOP bracelet in a major way during this year. Holz won $5 million after taking first place in the $111,111 Big One for One Drop.
Holz even surpassed his Big One haul in 2019 when he finished second in the $1 million versions of the tournament. In addition, he collected a whopping $6 million in this event. Holz, a very analytical player with intense attention, is another modern player. He transitioned from online success to live event success, winning about $33 million by 2020. Moreover, CrownUpGuy has firmly established himself as a poker aristocrat.
Greatest Poker Player FAQs:
Who is the best poker player today?
Bryan Kenney is one of the top poker players in the world. Only by playing at Global and acquiring a lot of experience can one ever hope to be as good as him.
Who is the most skilled and smartest poker player?
This is a ranking of the top four most talented and smart poker players. Phil Hellmuth is known as The Poker Brat, and Phil Ivey is known as The Tiger Woods of Poker. Also, Stu Ungar is known as The Comeback Kid, and Daniel Negreanu is known as Kid Poker are both one of the greatest poker players of all time.
Who is the all-time best cash game poker player?
Chip Reese is the only player who hasn’t built a name for himself by competing in hold’em and other tournaments. While Reese had a collection of bracelets, he preferred to specialize in cash games. In addition, he mastered the technique of a seven-card stud. He is also the world’s first HORSE expert, having won the first-ever WSOP event in that event in 2006.
