Who doesn’t like achievements, whether it’s in business or sports? 

Talking about sports, poker has emerged as the most trending card game nowadays. There are many players who have mastered this game over time and have been playing professionally full-time. Plus this game comes with the perks of travelling the world as well, because to play in tournaments you visit the most exotic locations like – Goa, Colombo, Macau and the list goes on.

Talking about sports, poker has emerged as the most trending card game nowadays. There are many players who have mastered this game over time and have been playing professionally full-time. Plus this game comes with the perks of traveling the world as well, because to play in tournaments you visit the most exotic locations like – Goa, Colombo, Macau, and the list goes on.

Poker stands out as one of the most captivating and widely enjoyed card games globally. High-stakes poker cash game players often draw inspiration from renowned poker players who have achieved considerable success and amassed significant wealth. However, determining the best poker players of all time can be challenging due to the multitude of factors to consider, including live poker tournament earnings, prestigious titles, longevity in the game, and more.

Today we will have a look at the list of the best poker players of 2023. These champs stand out with their excellent skills and knowledge of the game. It’s a different world when we talk about the most played card game – poker! 

Best  Poker Players In The World

Justin Bonomo

Bonomo is a big name in the world of poker, having won a whopping $62 million in cash prizes. He’s made a name for himself by competing in high-stakes tournaments against the best players in the world.

In June 2018, he won the $10,000 Heads-Up No-Limit Hold’em Championship at the World Series of Poker (WSOP), earning $185,965 and his second WSOP bracelet. Soon after, he won the $300,000 Super High Roller Bowl, adding $5 million to his winnings.

Then, he secured another WSOP bracelet by winning the $1 million Big One for One Drop, taking home a staggering $10 million. Bonomo’s success has kept growing, and by 2023, he’s earned nearly $62 million.

He’s known for his strategic skills, consistently outplaying some of the world’s best players. Since 2016, he’s won 18 major poker tournaments and made numerous final table appearances. He’s definitely not someone you’d want to play against!

Bryn Kenney

Bryn Kenney’s prominence as the greatest poker player & the highest-earning poker player in history is undeniable. Throughout his career, he has amassed an impressive $65,036,892 in tournament winnings. One of his most notable victories occurred in 2019 during the Triton Million event, where he secured second place, claiming a remarkable $20,563,324 prize. Interestingly, Kenney’s earnings from this event surpassed those of the winner, Aaron Zang, as a result of a deal negotiated when Kenney held the chip lead.

Beyond this monumental payday, Kenney has also clinched seven other prizes, each exceeding $1,000,000. Despite his numerous successes, he has only managed to secure one World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet, which he won in the $1,500 10-Game Mix Six Handed tournament in 2014. Throughout his WSOP career, he has reached seven final tables and cashed 32 times.

Ben Tollerene

Ben Tolerance definitely has some innate kind of love for the poker game and has given tough competition to the various poker players. The player has always given importance to the high stake tables and has managed to have a good game every time. He has come a really long way which is inspiring for many poker players out there. He started at $25 buy-ins to make millions in online poker tournaments. In the category of best poker player in the world, he has surely made his position.

Phil Ivey

Talking about the best poker players in the world, the list can not be complete without Phil Ivey. Phil Ivey has been the most feared competitor of the poker game and has literally shown off his skills like no one else. Proving himself in the offline poker games again and again, he has won many hearts by now. Phil has won numerous trophies and medals which are really cherished and admired by a number of people out there. He comes in the list of best poker players. This might be hard to believe, but he already has ten world series of poker titles under his belt which is quite commendable.

Erik Seidel

This 30-year-old New Yorker has been a popular undisputed champion who has been marked by a relatively low profile. He has always given preference to his games and has been doing it for a really long time now. Evidently, he has made his space in the list of best poker players in the world. You can surely see his games and analyze how well he chooses his moves. Surely, he has shown some great tricks in various poker games.

Bertrand Grospellier

As we know, the very popular statement, “Passion pays off” by Bertrand Grospellier is a living example of it. He has made several million in various poker tournaments and also earned two titles that are worth $500,000. He has studied the game thoroughly and knows how to show it off! He is definitely on the list of best poker players in the world. You can definitely go through his journey and see how well he has done with the game.

Dan Smith

Dan Smith who is one of the best poker players in the world comes from New Jersey. He dropped out of college to make the poker game his career which was pretty risky for anyone! But the player showed his skills and has amazingly made some great records. He is also known as Cowboy Dan, played hard to become a professional poker player at the age of 16 and is genuinely a great poker player. He won his first major tournament in 2008 and also won a $1,650 Heartland poker tour title for $101,960. He also went for a massive tear at the EPT Monte Carlo and won three events for $521,580.

Johnny Moss

He has been known as the Grandfather of Poker and one of the best poker players in the world. He has shown pretty unique tricks with his strategic mind which is really unbelievable for many. He is among those few players who have won the World Series of Poker main event thrice. Also, he won the $10,000 no-limit Hold’em world championship event, where he also won his WSOP Bracelet for the third time with a cash prize of $160,000. And, he has also won his fourth bracelet and a cash prize of $44,000 in the world series of Poker, 6th edition.

He has shown some great results with the poker game and people cherish his tricks which he has looked up to!

Also Read: Most Common Types of Poker Games

Fedor Holz

His name is enough to leave a mark in the poker world. He has created immense popularity with the games he plays. He secured his position in the list of best poker players in the world at the age of 21. He is currently ranked in the fourth position in the Global Poker Index of the top players for live tournaments. He has won over $26,700,000 and his lifetime winnings are over 32,550,000. Surely, he has taken over many monetary and non-monetary awards which also include the World Series of Poker.

Stephen Chidwick

From being a regular player to becoming one of the best poker players in the world he has come a long way. He has won over $32,000,000 during his whole poker career which is immensely commendable at such an age. He started playing at the age of 16 and is still in the game with many. He is definitely a tough competitor to the players who are there. The impressive tricks and strategies shown by him have made him ace the game many times in his poker journey.

Phil Hellmuth

Phil Hellmuth is globally recognized as one of the most prominent figures in the world of poker. With an unmatched record of 15 bracelets at the World Series of Poker (WSOP), including a victory in the prestigious 1989 Main Event, he has firmly established his place in the Poker Hall of Fame. Throughout his career, he has amassed an impressive 165 cashes at the WSOP, reaching 64 final tables. His total earnings from live tournaments amount to approximately $29,000,000, with his largest win of $2,645,333 coming from his 4th place finish in the 2012 Big One for One Drop event.

Nicknamed “The Poker Brat,” Hellmuth is known for his expressive and outspoken demeanor at the poker table. He has gained fame not only for his exceptional skill but also for his tendency to openly express his frustrations and perceived misfortune during gameplay. Despite his sometimes abrasive personality, Hellmuth’s presence has made him a captivating figure on major poker shows and has solidified his status as one of the most iconic players in the history of the game.

Ben Sulsky

He might not be well known to many, but he is among the best poker players in the world. He plays with the utmost excellent skills and amazing tricks which are really admired by poker fans. Starting his gaming career with low stakes, he has made his net worth a lot better but due to some major losses, he left the tables for some time.

But, he returned back to the game and made around $1 million, and took his position back among the top poker players. He has always been an inspiration to the people who have played the poker game dedicatedly. Showing up in online poker tournaments and winning big has always been his game.

He is still in the game and plays with all his focus and passion. Also, he makes some training videos for people who want to make something big with the poker game.

Doyle Brunson

Doyle Brunson, known as “Texas Dolly,” left an indelible mark on the poker world over his illustrious 50-year career until his retirement. He made history by winning the WSOP Main Event twice, in 1976 and 1977, becoming one of only four players to achieve this feat consecutively. Throughout his career, Brunson amassed a total of 10 WSOP bracelets, with his final victory occurring in 2005, in addition to clinching a WPT title.

Beyond his remarkable playing career, Brunson exerted a significant influence on the poker community. He authored “Super/System,” widely regarded as one of the most important poker strategy books ever written, essential reading for any serious player. Notably, his son Todd Brunson also made his mark in the poker world, securing his own WSOP bracelet. Their combined success made them the first father and son duo to accomplish this feat.

Even within his family, poker was a shared passion. Brunson’s daughter, Pamela, participated in the 2007 and 2009 Main Events. Sadly, Doyle Brunson passed away on May 14th, 2023, leaving behind a lasting legacy in the world of poker.

Stu Ungar

He has mastered the Texas Hold’em variant and also plays Gin Rummy with all his gaming skills. He has won the world series of Poker Main events thrice in poker history. Also, Stu has won five bracelets and is ranked 19th by WSOP after winning over $3.7 million in poker tournaments. He has participated in the No-limit Texas events which turned out to be a great success for him.

Now, talking about female poker players, there are some best ones who have made their name in this male-dominated industry

Annie Duke 

She is popularly known as the Duchess of Poker and has a total net worth of $9 million. Taking her place in the high-stakes poker crusher, she is well-known for the amazing records she has built in her career. She secured the first rank in the 2004 WSOP tournament and won the WSOP Bracelet. Who would have thought that she would become the leading female poker player in the World Series for several years?

She is absolutely one of the best poker players in the world who have re-marked poker history with their skills and knowledge. 

Maria H

We can not leave out Maria Ho while talking about the best poker players in the world. She has won $3 million in the tournaments that she participated in including 54 World Series of Poker Cashes. She also made her position in the final tables of the World Poker tour. She also hosts and broadcast credits and also holds the position of strategic commentator for the Super High Roller Bowl events which is huge. 

Kathy Liebert 

She holds a net worth of $6.89 million and is also the record holder of highest stakes poker tournaments. She plays big and has shown some great strategies and tricks on the tables which are commendable for any poker player. Evidently, she got a place on the list of best poker players in the world without any doubt. Look at her journey closely and see how she has won millions of hearts. 

Annette Obrestad

She is known by her popular online poker name Annette 15 and has a net worth of $3.9 million. She won the World Series of Poker in 2007. She is unbelievable with the game and also became the youngest player to win a coveted gold bracelet which is immensely huge for the best poker players in the world.

Her achievements are big which also include winning a 180-player Sit N Go and that was an incredible win, must say!

Read More: Tips and Strategies to Use While Playing Poker

Daniel Negreanu

If there were an award for the most popular poker player, it would undoubtedly be given to Daniel Negreanu. Hailing from Canada, Negreanu sharpened his poker skills at the tables of Toronto before making the move to Las Vegas. His breakthrough year was 1997 when he participated in the World Poker Finals and emerged victorious in two events, earning him the title of the tournament’s best player.

Since then, Negreanu has become one of the most prominent figures in the poker world. His popularity soared through numerous appearances on poker TV shows and his close association with PokerStars, the world’s largest poker site. He has garnered immense respect in the game, having won six WSOP bracelets and amassed over $51 million in live tournament winnings throughout his career. One of his most significant achievements was finishing second in the 2014 Big One for One Drop, where he won an impressive prize of $8,288,001.

Vanessa Selbst

Vanessa Selbst has left an indelible mark on the world of poker, emerging as the highest-earning female player in history. In a game traditionally dominated by men, she has ascended to the pinnacle, accumulating nearly $12,000,000 in live tournament winnings over her career. Notably, she is the sole woman to have ever claimed the number one rank on the Global Poker Index.

Throughout her illustrious career, Selbst has clinched three WSOP bracelets, with her most recent victory in 2014. Additionally, she has reached the final tables at two WPT tournaments. On no fewer than 21 occasions, she has pocketed $100,000 or more, with her largest cash prize amounting to $1,823,430 for securing the top spot at the Main Event of the 2010 PPT Cannes tournament.

Although she has stepped back from competitive poker, Selbst remains active in the financial world, now serving as a hedge fund manager at Bridgewater Associates.

Conclusion

In the dynamic world of poker, these players have not only achieved extraordinary success but have also left an indelible mark on the game itself. From Justin Bonomo’s strategic prowess to Vanessa Selbst’s groundbreaking achievements as the highest-earning female player, each of these individuals has contributed to the rich tapestry of poker history. Whether you’re an aspiring player looking for inspiration or a seasoned enthusiast marveling at the accomplishments of these legends, their stories serve as a testament to the skill, determination, and sheer love for the game that defines the world of poker.