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Poker is a global phenomenon since its inception in the 19th century. Millions of people play it around the world every day. Poker was originally played only by men until women started getting involved in the 1980s. Today, more and more women are becoming involved in the card game and they are often better at it than men.
Even though today we are mostly focused on online gambling, we can’t ignore the fact that many professional poker players made a name for themselves while playing in land-based casinos. Don’t tell anyone, but we are sure they still rock through the most anticipated online platforms. You can check yourself and see if you recognize some of them on https://www.casinoscout.io/online-pokies/.
Also, we want to mention some of the most significant names in the poker world. One of the biggest challenges in the game is figuring out who is the most successful poker player ever. But, we tried to find out who is the best among them all.
One of the biggest names in the game is Doyle Brunson, who became known as the King of Poker. He was also the first man to win over $10 million at the World Series of Poker. Who else makes the list?
1. Doyle Brunson
Doyle Brunson is a professional poker player who has won millions of dollars throughout his career. Born in Texas, he started playing poker at age nine after watching his father play.
After working as a mechanic repairer, he decided to travel around Texas playing poker and eventually moved to Las Vegas where he worked at the Sands Hotel.
Later he got married and had a family, but his passion for poker stayed forever. While working at the University of Louisville, he was invited to join a group of card players. They played cards every week and soon formed a close friendship. After being introduced to the game of poker, he joined them and learned the basics of the game. Soon he became good enough to enter tournaments and placed well. He went on to win several major tournaments such as the 1974 WSOP Main Event. His success in the game earned him the nickname “the Professor”.
2. Anne Duke
Poker was originally played only by men until women started getting involved in the 1980s.
Today, more and more women are becoming involved in the card game and they are often better at it than men.
The top female player is probably Annie Duke (born Anne Marie D’Antonio), who currently holds the record for being the youngest woman to win a World Series of Poker event. She won the 2007 WSOP $1,500 No Limit Hold’em Main Event at age 19.
However, Annie is not into poker these days. She is actually a professional educator for cognitive-behavioral issues. Although she is in so-called retirement from poker, her name will forever be etched in poker history.
She has also published several how-to books for gamblers to help them make better decisions, on how much money to bet, how to bluff, and how to make millions through their hobby.
At the same time, he is an active member of non-profit organizations that raise awareness about gambling addiction. He often organizes charity poker tournaments, although he has not been playing poker professionally for a long time.
3. Daniel Negreanu
Negreanu hails from Canada and has so far won six times at the WSOP and twice at the WTP. In 2014, he was named the best poker player of the decade. His nickname is Kid Poker.
He says he is addicted to the excitement that poker brings and always plays at tables with high limits. He is known in the poker world for being able to read his opponents. Even he confirms that he spends a lot of time observing other players and draws conclusions based on their behavior and decisions.
Besides being a great poker player, he has also appeared in several movies and music videos. Daniel also runs a blog dedicated to poker and its influence on private life, politics, and love.
He has been vegan since 2006 and claims that veganism makes him a better gambler.
4. Justin Bonomo
This list cannot be complete without ZeeJustin who has had a bad reputation for a long time, due to the use of cheats, a multi-accounting approach, bluffing, and also generally bad gaming ethics.
However, he is a significant name in today’s poker. Today he participates in high-stakes tournaments, but he is also known for being a philanthropist and donating money to humanitarian causes.
5. Stu Ungar
According to many, he is the best player of all time. Unfortunately, Ungar passed away in 1998. But he is one of the most significant names in the development of poker as we know it today.
He started his gambling career very young and maybe that was the key to becoming one of the best of all time. His life was difficult, so he often sought solace in exciting activities such as sports betting and poker.
6. Phil Ivey
They say he is the Tiger Woods of poker. He has won 10 WSOP tournaments and is even part of the Poker Hall of Fame. His career flourished during the 2000s, and other poker players were afraid to face him at the table.
Ivey loves high-stakes, live tournaments, and cash games. He is one of those people without whom today’s gambling industry would not be what it is. In fact, in every industry, there is someone who goes against all odds and manages to be above everyone else. So Phil Ivey is a role model and idol to many, even though he had many people who tried to surpass him over the years.
Conclusion
Poker is played all over the world, from casinos to home games. The game has grown into a very lucrative sport with millions of dollars being wagered each year. Today, thousands of professional tournaments take place worldwide, with top players earning huge payouts.
As you can imagine, there are many more popular poker players in the world. However, we have singled out only a few for you, and you can explore further and find your favorite among them all.
