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Poker's Who's Who: The Top 5 Famous Poker Players of the Early 2000s Boom
Get ready to meet the legends who revolutionized poker and captured the world's attention during the early 2000s expansion of the game. Let's dive into the tales of five incredible players who left their mark on the poker community.
#1 Phil Hellmuth - 'the Poker Brat'
At 89 years old, the finger-pointing, ego-boasting "Poker Brat" is still a powerhouse in the poker community. With over half a century of professional poker under his belt, Hellmuth has claimed impressive victories. One of his greatest achievements is authoring the seminal poker guide, Super/System, which remains an invaluable resource for aspiring poker professionals.
Hellmuth first reached the pinnacle of poker in 1976 and 1977 when he snagged the WSOP Main Event titles, becoming one of only four players with consecutive tournament wins. Not only that, but his children have followed in his footsteps—his son Todd even won the coveted pro bracelet in 2006, making them the first father-son duo to achieve the feat. Hellmuth retired in 2018, but his ten WSOP bracelets and career tournament earnings of $20.2 million still stand strong.
#2 Chris Moneymaker - The Man Behind the Boom
When regular guy Chris Moneymaker triumphantly won the WSOP Main Event in 2003, pocketing $2.5 million, he sparked a poker craze that turned poker into a global phenomenon. Moneymaker's amateur status charmed millions and inspired countless new players to take up the game.
#3 Daniel Negreanu - Kid Poker Ascendant
While Phil Hellmuth may symbolize the roots of poker, Negreanu embodies the sport's modern face. One of the most recognizable poker faces to emerge during the mid-2000s boom, Negreanu has graced some of the largest tables in Las Vegas and quickly gained a massive following.
His big break came in 1997 when he secured a win in the World Poker Finals and was crowned the top player. Throughout his career, he's continued to rack up WSOP bracelets and World Poker Tour championships, totaling six and two, respectively. Negreanu set the record for the largest live tournament winnings of all time—$42 million, earned through his second-place finish in the 2014 Big One for One Drop tournament.
#4 Phil Ivey - The Tiger Woods of Poker
Very few poker players have managed to grace the top echelons of the game as consistently as Ivey throughout his career, amassing a staggering net worth of over $100 million. Ivey's WSOP finishes alone earned him a top spot on this list.
Known for having an enigmatic aura surrounding him, Ivey has been a regular face at all high-stakes televised games since the start of the 2000s. Ivey captured his first bracelet in 2000, followed by another three in 2002. To date, he's scooped up ten WSOP bracelets and holds the record for the largest live cash game pot of all time, valued at an incredible $16 million.
#5 Liv Boeree - The Stargazing Poker Prodigy
Boastful of an impressive net worth and resume both in and out of the poker world, Boeree is, without a doubt, one of the most famous female poker players. She's become well-known for her quick wit and global tournament attendance, placement, and winnings.
In 2010, Boeree hit her stride in the European Poker Tour Sanremo, taking first place and walking away with €1.25 million. She also earned a WSOP bracelet as part of the 2017 10K Tag Team and has racked up an impressive $3.5 million in tournament winnings overall. In addition to her prowess as a poker player, Boeree is also an astrophysicist, a sought-after broadcaster and speaker, and long-standing PokerStars team member.
That wraps up our roundup of the top five most famous poker players from the early 2000s poker boom, their accomplishments, and their ongoing impact on the poker world. Although their individual paths leading to the top differ, they each share a deep-seated love for the game and an undeniable ability to excel at even the most challenging levels.
If you aspire to be like these poker icons, all it takes is practice, a little luck, and plenty of dedication. And what better place to start than joining the vibrant CoinPoker community? With lucrative rakebacks, promotions, and tournaments, we offer an exciting platform for poker enthusiasts of every skill level—so don't wait, join us today and start working your way up the ranks!
- The 'Poker Brat', Phil Hellmuth, remains a significant figure in the poker community, having a career that spans more than five decades and earning over $20 million from tournament wins.
- Chris Moneymaker, a former accountant, became a household name when he won the WSOP Main Event in 2003 and sparked a global fascination with poker.
- Daniel Negreanu, known as 'Kid Poker', is widely recognized as an icon of modern poker and has amassed six WSOP bracelets, two World Poker Tour championships, and over $42 million in tournament winnings.
- Phil Ivey, referred to as the 'Tiger Woods of Poker', has consistently ranked among the top poker players, earning a net worth of over $100 million and holding ten WSOP bracelets, including three in 2002 alone.
- Liv Boeree, an accomplished astrophysicist as well as a poker prodigy, boasts a net worth and tournament winnings that place her among the most famous female poker players in the world, with over $3.5 million in winnings and a WSOP bracelet from the 2017 10K Tag Team event.
- Poker trends have expanded beyond traditional casino-and-gambling establishments to encompass online platforms and sports-betting, keeping the game of poker relevant and engaging in the 21st century.
