Top 8 Best Poker Players of All Time

12 Feb 2025

Just like in any sport, poker has its internal rankings of the greatest players. These rankings typically fall into two main categories: live tournament performances and online cash games. Surely live results tend to attract the most attention, so in this article, we’ll focus on the best poker players in history. Naturally, narrowing it down to just one person wouldn’t do justice, so let’s dive in!

The tournament results of all players are compiled in the TheHendonMob database, which has been tracking poker statistics since 2001. In addition to scorekeeping, the site originally published fascinating stories, tournament photos, biographies, and more. It quickly gained popularity and became one of the leading poker websites.

Later, another statistical platform, Global Poker Index (GPI), emerged. In 2012, it was acquired by Alex Dreyfus, who then purchased TheHendonMob the following year. Today, the two sites are nearly identical, primarily showcasing live tournament results. For this article, we’ll use data on tournament payouts while also including brief biographies of the top poker players. And that’s how it looks for today:

Rather than strictly adhering to conventional rankings like the «All-Time Money List», which you can explore directly on these platforms, we’ve chosen to highlight the best poker players of all time who have left an indelible mark on the global history of the game. Note that the players in our ranking are listed in no particular order.

One of the few online texas holdem players to make it onto this list, Viktor Blom grew up as the youngest of four siblings. He got into online poker at the age of 16, starting with a $100 deposit that his brother helped him scrape together. Viktor began playing heads-up games against anyone who dared to challenge him, from amateurs to seasoned professionals. Within weeks, his bankroll skyrocketed to $300,000.

Blom played poker for 12-14 hours daily, skipping school in the process. Despite his parents forbidding him from playing, the young “Isildur1” ignored their rules. Over the next three years, he lost most of his savings, dwindling his bankroll to just $2,000. Determined to bounce back, Blom rebuilt his bankroll to $1.5 million and began competing in high-stakes games against poker legends like Patrik Antonius, Phil Ivey, and Tom Dwan. Within a month, he amassed over $5 million, only to lose nearly $4 million to Brian Hastings in Pot-Limit Omaha.

In December 2010, PokerStars signed Blom to their roster, making him the first Team Pro player whose identity remained anonymous — represented only by his online nickname and avatar. PokerStars even launched the SuperStars Showdown series, allowing players to challenge “Isildur1” in high-stakes cash games. By January 2011, Blom ventured into live tournaments, with his first being the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure in the Bahamas.

Current activity: Viktor remains an enigmatic figure in the poker world. Though he occasionally participates in high-stakes tournaments, he prefers the online realm, where he continues to play under his iconic “Isildur1” alias.

Sam Trickett is one of Britain’s most accomplished top poker players, with a track record of dominating regional tournaments across Europe. His initial victories earned him prize money ranging from $100,000 to $500,000. As his career progressed, Trickett began competing on the global stage, where he raked in winnings totaling over $1 million in a single event.

Trickett’s success is attributed to his unique strategy and relentless drive for self-improvement. His dedication and skill earned him worldwide recognition, as well as victories in some of the most prestigious tournaments.

In 2009, Trickett took a brief hiatus from poker, stepping back from the global circuit. However, he used this time wisely, refining his skills and preparing for a stronger comeback. A year later, Trickett returned to competitive play, achieving significant success not just in regional competitions but also on the global stage. Nearly every tournament he entered ended with a victory.

Current activity: Today, Sam remains a prominent figure in poker, balancing live tournaments with appearances in exclusive high-stakes games. He has also explored entrepreneurial ventures and remains a key influencer in the UK poker community.

Vanessa Selbst is widely regarded as the best female poker player in history. This claim is supported by her two WSOP bracelets, two NAPT titles, and numerous cash finishes in major poker tournaments. For Selbst, poker was never just a hobby. Despite facing gender bias early in her career, with some men dismissing her as an amateur, she consistently proved her skill, earning respect as a top-tier professional.

Selbst won her first WSOP gold bracelet in 2008. Known for her competitive spirit, Vanessa frequently engages in unconventional prop bets. For instance, billionaire Bill Perkins once bet Dan Bilzerian that he couldn’t bike between two cities in two days. Vanessa, inspired by such antics, made a bet with Dzmitry Urbanovich in 2016: if he won three WSOP bracelets that year, she would pay him $2,000,000; otherwise, Urbanovich would owe her $10,000. The latter scenario played out.

Vanessa, who identifies as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, spends her free time with her wife, Miranda Foster. The couple enjoys playing tennis, billiards, and darts. Vanessa's favorite city is Las Vegas, which she loves for its social opportunities and group sports like billiards, baseball, and basketball.

Current activity: Though Vanessa stepped back from full-time poker in 2018 to focus on family and other ventures, she still participates in select tournaments and philanthropic efforts related to the poker world. She is also active in mentoring and advocacy work.

For years, poker was simply a fun escape for Chris, a regular accountant who also worked part-time at a local restaurant. In 2003, Moneymaker decided to enter an online satellite tournament with a small buy-in. He won and earned a seat in the WSOP Main Event, but he lacked the funds to travel to Las Vegas. Chris had to borrow money from his father and a friend, promising to repay them with interest if he cashed.

In the Main Event final, Moneymaker famously bluffed Sam Farha with just a king in his hand, forcing Farha to fold his top pair. Chris won $2.5 million in prize money. Overwhelmed with joy, he celebrated by spending $25,000 at a strip club. A few days later, he donated an equal amount to a cancer charity to “balance the karma”. Because of this crazy story Chris is considered as one of the most famous poker players.

Despite his victory, Moneymaker has faced criticism from skeptics who dismiss him as a "fish" who got lucky. However, his record speaks for itself, with 63 cashes in prestigious tournaments, including four on the WSOP circuit, four on the EPT, and two on the WPT.

Current activity: Chris continues to participate in poker events and works as an ambassador, inspiring recreational players to pursue their poker dreams.

Doyle Brunson’s early job as a store clerk paid far less than he could make playing poker. On some nights, his winnings from poker exceeded his monthly salary. While the decision to pursue poker full-time wasn’t easy, Brunson ultimately chose the life of a professional player and quit his job.

Doyle’s poker skills quickly caught the attention of other players, who admired his sharp gameplay. This recognition helped Brunson become an unofficial leader of the “Texas Road Gamblers”, a group that included Duane Hamilton, Sailor Roberts, and Amarillo Slim. Known for playing only high-stakes games, the group earned legendary status. The History Channel even featured them in a report, claiming they “cleaned out the state of Texas”. They were the most famous poker team of their era.

Brunson is credited with transforming poker from a game associated with outlaws into a respected intellectual sport. He even launched his own poker room, Doyle’s Poker. Over his career, Brunson has won ten WSOP bracelets. His most recent bracelet victory came in 2005, marking 50 years of professional play at that time.

Current activity: Doyle Brunson, probably the greatest poker player, ever passed away at the age of 89, remaining devoted to his beloved game until the very end. His contribution to poker is immeasurable. Feel free to explore our dedicated topic to revisit the iconic poker stories that happened with the legendary Texas Dolly.

Another greatest poker player we can not fail to mention today. Phil Hellmuth achieved poker fame in 1989 when, at just 24 years old, he became the WSOP Main Event champion, earning $755,000. Keeping a promise made before the tournament, Phil used part of his winnings to buy his father a brand-new Mercedes. From that moment on, his family fully supported his poker career.

The following three years were challenging at the WSOP, but Hellmuth managed to maintain a steady income by participating in other live tournaments. In 1992, he took silver and won a first-place title. The next year brought massive success: within two weeks, Hellmuth claimed three WSOP bracelets and a second-place finish in another event.

By 2003, Phil had secured nine WSOP bracelets. That same year, he published his first book, followed by two more. In 2006, Hellmuth tied with Johnny Chan and Doyle Brunson with ten bracelets. Although 2011 saw him finishing second in three WSOP events without winning a bracelet, he rebounded in 2012 with two gold victories. While Hellmuth’s recent results have been less impressive, he remains determined to achieve his goal of 24 WSOP bracelets. Currently, he holds 17 — a world record in poker.

Current activity: Phil continues to compete actively, write books, and engage with fans as he works toward expanding his unmatched bracelet collection.

Famous poker player and one of the most highest-earning people in history, Daniel Negreanu never completed high school. At 15, he considered pursuing a career in professional billiards, but after playing poker for the first time, he became completely hooked. He dropped out of school just before his final exams to devote himself fully to poker, a decision that paid off massively. Supported by his parents, Negreanu became the most famous poker player in the world, amassing an incredible fortune and earning a spot in the Poker Hall of Fame.

His net worth today is over $21 million, a large portion of which comes from his numerous cashes in major global and European poker series. With over $32 million in career winnings, Negreanu tops the list of the most successful poker players globally.

In live poker, Negreanu's total earnings exceed $42 million, including 320 cashes, seven WSOP victories, as well as wins and final tables in the EPT and WPT. His seven-figure fortune is the result of nearly 35 years of hard work.

Current activity: Negreanu remains active in both high-stakes poker tournaments and online play, while also continuing to educate others through poker coaching and content creation.

Phil Ivey has achieved tremendous success in poker, winning 11 WSOP bracelets and even launching his own poker school. His first major accomplishments began in 2000 when the 24-year-old Ivey defeated Phil Hellmuth, David Ulliott, Amarillo Slim, and earned $195,000 to become a WSOP champion.

Ivey’s fame skyrocketed in 2002 when he triumphed in three events at the WSOP in just a few days, making him a three-time champion. However, his path to further glory wasn't without setbacks: in 2003, he was defeated by top poker player in the world Chris Moneymaker, and in 2009, despite making the November Nine, he finished in seventh place.

Most of Ivey’s wealth was earned through high-stakes tournaments. Since 2010, he’s been a regular participant in the Aussie Millions Poker Championship, setting a personal record with a single win of over $3.5 million. Ivey is one of the few players to achieve success both in cash games and live tournaments, building an enormous bankroll by outplaying veterans at the Bellagio casino. Ivey’s versatility was on full display when he defeated Texas billionaire Andy Bilann in a high-stakes challenge, winning over $16 million in just three days.

Current activity: Ivey continues to be a major force in the poker world, participating in high-profile tournaments and cash games, and maintaining his legacy as one of the greatest players in poker history.

This article highlights nearly all of the most famous poker players in history. As shown in their stories, poker is much more than a card game — it’s a world where players can either rise to the top or leave empty-handed. The success of these legendary players demonstrates their strength of will, determination, and desire to succeed.

Today's rankings and stories of the best poker players in the world serve as proof of their skill and resilience. If you want to walk this challenging path, or are already close to success, you can sharpen your skills through our expert coaches. On our website, you can find a personal mentor who will guide you through everything you need to know about poker. Reach out right now!