The game of poker has seen many iconic players grace its pro tournament tables throughout the years. Even though prestigious poker events such as the World Series of Poker continue to bring in thousands of players, very few become household names. It can’t be said with absolute certainty who the best poker players of all time are, but a handful do deserve to be part of the game’s top rankers. Here are some of poker’s best and most iconic players:
Daniel Negreanu
Credit: @dnegspoker on Instagram
Canadian-born Daniel Negreanu has spent 20 years as a poker industry icon, managing to stay relevant in a changing landscape through a combination of intensive training, a sense of self-awareness, and a hefty dose of respect for everyone in the industry. One look at his skills and demeanor on the felt explains why he’s retained his status as the face of poker.
Throughout his long career, he’s bagged six World Series of Poker bracelets, two World Poker Tour titles, and over $43 million in tournament cashes. At 23, he became the youngest person at the time to win a WSOP bracelet, earning him the nickname “Kid Poker.” After that win, he gained even more momentum in the poker boom of the 2000s, quickly dominating with his work ethic and unparalleled gameplay. He eventually became part of the Poker Hall of Fame in 2017. Besides his impressive accolades, his friendly personality made him a fan and TV favorite, which is how he became one of the most well-known players in the world.
Phil Hellmuth
Credit: @philhellmuthpositivity on Instagram
Whether you love him or hate him, it’s impossible to deny Phil Hellmuth’s incredible game. Despite his infamous rants and tirades that have got him nicknamed “The Poker Brat,” his numbers and wins have made him deserving of being called one of the top players in poker history. Even with his top-ranking status or reputation, he still maintains an air of fun about him. Notably, he arrived during a 2022 WSOP main event decked out in a Darth Vader costume, following his looks as Thor and Gandalf in previous years.
He’s a clear dominator in The World Series of Poker; he currently boasts a whopping sixteen WSOP bracelets and shows no signs of stopping there. In 1989, he became the youngest person to win the WSOP main event at the time, at only 24 years old. From live tournaments, his winnings have reached more than $23 million; from the WSOP alone, he’s won more than $12.5 million in cash-outs.
Phil Ivey
Credit: @philivey on Instagram
Phil Ivey’s poker career began and took off early in his youth, and his game has never faltered. Ivey is widely considered to be the best poker player of all-time, having won 10 WSOP bracelets well before reaching 40 years old. In the 2000s, he was one of the most feared players, with some calling him the “Tiger Woods of Poker.”
Ivey is the only player ever who has managed to dominate both online and live high-stakes cash games and live tournaments. He’s been able to earn $21 million in live tournament cashes — despite not playing tournaments as often — and his Full Tilt Poker account turned more than a $20 million profit, setting an online poker record. Though he hasn’t been showing up to tournaments for some time, Ivey might be able to set some new records if he ever decides to return to the tables.
There are no definitive poker player rankings, but these three are some of the most stand-out players in the world of poker. For more entertainment news, check us out at MyNewsFit.