Type “Greatest poker player of all time” into Google and the name Phil Ivey comes out as the highest-ranking answer.
Sep 17, 2012 If you kept up with poker throughout the 80’s and 90’s then you know that Johnny was the poker player of that era. Known as the “Orient Express”, his talent has been immortalized in the poker community forever. He has been playing poker for over 20 years now and many can say that he.
Further down the first search page is the Wikipedia entry for Stu Ungar, alongside Top 10 lists of players, often ranked with subjectivity rather than science.
After all, how does one reasonably determine who is the best poker player ever? Is it the player who has amassed the most career prize money, even though this favours the modern-day player over those racking up the tournament wins in the 1970s?
Is it the player to have cashed the most times? The player to have competed at the top of the tree for the longest? The player to have accumulated the most tournament victories? The player who has shown the most versatility by winning more World Series of Poker Bracelets in different poker disciplines? After all, poker shouldn’t just be looked at through the limited lens of no-limit Texas Holdem.
The Board
To try to answer the question once and for all, we have devised our own ranking criteria, analysing the performances of 30 legendary poker players in the following areas:
- World Series of Poker Main Event wins
- Total World Series of Poker bracelets
- Versatility (bracelets collected in different poker disciplines)
- Tournament wins
- Years active
- Career winnings
- Career cashes
- Poker books published
- Biggest career payday
- World Poker Tour wins
- European Poker Tour wins
Our Tells
Each player was ranked in all of the 11 categories and the 15 players to have performed best overall progressed to the final table. Unfortunately for Jason Mercier, he finished on the bubble.
Each category was then given a weighting based on how important they were deemed in deciding the greatest poker player ever. The weighting system was based on the order of the categories above.
So the player who has been rewarded with the biggest career payday was handed 15 points, while the lowest in this category received just one.
Meanwhile, the top player for Main Event wins collected 150 points and the lowest just 10.
Once the top 15 had a score in each category, these were totalled up and the greatest poker player of all time was unveiled. Here are the final 15:
15) Vanessa Selbst
Despite having a reputation for being a bit of a loose cannon, Selbst is the most successful female player ever in terms of earnings.
Her style is based around being aggressive pre-flop and getting involved in big pots, which often means either busting out of tournaments early or getting into strong chip positions from which others can be bullied.
In both 2010 and 2011, Selbst earned over seven figures at the tables and she has even found the time to complete a law degree.
World Series Of Poker Legends
14) Antonio Esfandiari
Esfandiari burst onto the scene during the midst of the poker boom in 2004 when winning the LA Poker Classic on the World Poker Tour, before following up with his first WSOP bracelet later in the same year.
However, it was eight years later when the magician performed his most stunning trick, securing the biggest single payout in the history of poker when trousering over $18 million by beating 47 other players to land The Big One for One Drop, an event set up with the intention of raising money for charity.
13) Barry Greenstein
Charitable is certainly the best word to describe Greenstein, both to his fellow players and organisations that require financial support.
For players eliminated from tournaments at Greenstein’s expense, they receive an autograph and a free copy of his book Ace on the River: An Advanced Poker Guide. Meanwhile, he donates his net earnings from tournament to charities.
12) Barbara Enright
Selbst may have made the most money of any female playing poker, but she has Enright to thank for being one of the first women to break down the gender barriers associated with the game.
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She placed fifth in the 1995 WSOP main event, having already gained two bracelets during her career, and in 2007 became the first woman to be inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame.
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11) Stu Ungar
“Some day, I suppose it’s possible for someone to be a better no-limit Holdem player than me. I doubt it, but it could happen.”
Pocket Legends
This is one of the more famous quotes from Ungar, who is a three-time WSOP main event winner and one of only a trio of players to achieve the feat in consecutive years. Two of his successes also came 16 years apart.
In an era when most players were generally conservative, Ungar’s aggressive approach was often deadly, especially when holding a chip advantage.
10) John Juanda
Juanda is one of the most easy-going poker players in existence, although he often prioritises appearances in high-money cash games, rather than tournament play.
After a break from the game, resting and prop betting in Japan, Juanda hit the headlines again last year in a first tournament appearance for over 12 months when winning the European Poker Tour main event in Barcelona.
9) Johnny Moss
Moss’ status within the game is visible by the fact that he won the 1970 WSOP main event not through winning a tournament, but by election from his poker peers. Any doubt about his talents were dispelled the following year when Moss was champion again, this time in a freeze-out tournament.
Another followed in 1974, albeit with a buy-in that only attracted 16 players.
He had dominated in cash games for a long period before the World Series was created, with a coolness that was unshakeable regardless of how a table was running.
8) Daniel Negreanu
The highest-earning tournament poker player in history originally had dreams of being a snooker player, but the decision to switch the green baize for green felt has proven a profitable one.
He finished in the money more than anyone else in the 2009 World Series and was crowned Player of the Year in 2013. His greatest skill is considered to be his reading of opponents and assessments of the hands they are holding.
7) Phil Ivey
Ivey may have never won the WSOP main event, but four finishes inside the top 25 between 2002 and 2009 highlight the strength of his game.
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His versatility across poker varieties have often seen Ivey considered towards the top of the game’s classification and his ability to show no emotion, treating a big win and bad-beat loss with the same reaction, makes him especially tough to read.
6) Erik Seidel
Seidel is a bit of an unsung hero when it comes to ranking the greats of poker, with his big career highlight being the final hand of the 1988 WSOP main event, which he lost to Johnny Chan. A copy of the hand, in which Seidel is trapped by Chan after flopping a straight, features in the film Rounders.
However, Seidel has done his fair share of winning too, cashing at the World Series in every year between 1991 and 2015 and winning over $25 million in his career through live games.
5) Scotty Nguyen
Final-table tournament appearances may be rare in the last eight years for Nguyen, who has a preference for tournament play over cash games because the environment is friendlier.
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The 1998 main event winner, with a tendency to drop the word ‘baby’ into most of his sentences, is at his best playing fixed-limit games, where one moment of bad luck is less likely to upset hours of good work.
Top 10 Poker Legends List Of All Time
4) Johnny Chan
Chan’s previously-mentioned victory over Seidel in 1988 was his second in succession in the WSOP main event and he was incredibly close to being the first ever player to win three on the bounce, making it to a heads-up showdown with Phil Hellmuth in 1989 before losing.
He was also the first to reach 10 WSOP bracelets and is well remembered for bringing an orange to the table with him to act as not only a lucky mascot, but to provide a nicer smell than the heavy smoke which typically engulfed poker rooms.
3) Doyle Brunson
In terms of influential names within the world of poker, few have the credentials of Brunson. His Super System book is one of the most authoritative ever written on the game, he is a multiple main event victor and a frequent bracelet collector.
He was also the first ever player to earn over $1 million from playing in poker tournaments.
2) T.J. Cloutier
When it comes to specialists of tournament poker, few hold greater sway in the game than Cloutier, whether it be Texas Holdem or Omaha, no limit or pot limit.
The one blot on his copybook is a failure to win the WSOP main event, although he has finished in the top five on four occasions. Cloutier was runner up to Bill Smith in 1985 and then again to Chris Ferguson in 2000.
1) Phil Hellmuth
Hellmuth is a main event winner, a bracelet record holder and is ranked in the top 10 in poker’s all-time money list. He is also the frontrunner for WSOP cashes and final-table appearances.
His website ends with the ambition: “I want to be the greatest poker player of all time.” Based on this research, his goal has been reached.
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Winning duo specializes in magic and comedy
From Cirque du Soleil to magicians to stand up comedians, the entertainment options in Las Vegas are second to none and a big part of what makes the city such a popular destination. Who puts on the best show in Sin City? That's what we asked our readers.
Magic and comedy come together when Penn & Teller take the stage at Rio. This live show features sleight-of-hand and large-scale illusions, sideshow routines and physical comedy. The duo hang around for meet-and-greet sessions outside the theater.
Photo courtesy of Penn & TellerDavid Copperfield, arguably the world’s most famous illusionist, has long been an institution in Las Vegas. During his daily shows at MGM Grand, Copperfield performs some of the same magic tricks that made him famous.
Photo courtesy of MGM GrandIf you’re having a hard time decided who to see in Vegas, consider Legends in Concert at Tropicana Las Vegas. This ultimate tribute show – one of the longest running shows in the city – brings to life hits from music legends like Elvis, Stevie Wonder, Adele, Rod Stewart and Cindi Lauper.
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America’s Got Talent winner Mat Franco takes the stage at The LINQ for what has quickly become one of Vegas’s top magic shows, Magic Reinvented Nightly. This immersive live performance blends some of Mat’s signature illusions with all-new creations.
Photo courtesy of Mat FrancoSinger, dancer and choreographer Paula Abdul headlines her residency Paula Abdul: Forever Your Girl at the Flamingo Las Vegas. Guests get to see the pop legend perform her greatest hits, as well as reveal some stories from her career, including behind-the-scenes moments from American Idol.
Photo courtesy of Kevin Winter/Getty Images for dcpLe Rêve means “The Dream” – a dreamy show at the Wynn staged on a circular aquatic theater. The show tells the story of The Dreamer through acrobatics, synchronized swimming and an impressive 80-foot dive.
Photo courtesy of Wynn Las VegasTerry Fator takes the stage at The Mirage for a performance filled with singing, comedy, puppetry and the celebrity impressions that helped factor win America’s Got Talent. Audiences will get to know a diverse cast of characters, including Winston the Turtle, Emma Taylor (the little girl with the big voice) and lounge singer Monty Carlo.
Photo courtesy of The MirageNo trip to Vegas would be complete without an Elvis encounter, and Pete Vallee, a.k.a. Big Elvis, is one of the best impersonators on the strip. His show at the Harrah’s Piano Bar features all the top Elvis hits across six decades. It’s considered one of the best free shows on the Strip.
Photo courtesy of Big ElvisAbsinthe at Caesars Palace recreates the circular stage of a traveling circus for an immersive, adults-only performance of circus, burlesque and vaudeville “inspired by the absinthe-drenched cabarets of late 19th century Europe.”
Photo courtesy of AbsintheMariah Carey takes the stage at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace for her residency The Butterfly Returns. Show goers are treated to a performance by the bestselling female artist of all time, including some of her 18 Billboard Hot 100 number one singles.
Photo courtesy of Mariah Carey
The top 10 winners in the category Best Las Vegas Show are as follows:
- Penn & Teller - Rio Hotel & Casino
- David Copperfield - MGM Grand
- Legends in Concert - Tropicana
- Mat Franco Magic Reinvented Nightly - The LINQ
- Paula Abdul: Forever Your Girl - Flamingo Las Vegas
- Le Rêve - Wynn Las Vegas
- Terry Fator: The VOICE of Entertainment - The Mirage
- Big Elvis - Harrah's Hotel & Casino
- Absinthe - Caesars Palace
- Mariah Carey: The Butterfly Returns - Caesars Palace
A panel of experts partnered with 10Best editors to pick the initial 20 nominees, and the top 10 winners were determined by popular vote.
Congratulations to all these winning shows!
The Experts
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Steve Bourie is the author of the American Casino Guide. Published annually since 1992, it is the number one bestselling book in the U.S. on casino gambling and travel. His YouTube channel has more than 28 million views and he offers a free American Casino Guide app for both Android devices and iPhones/iPads.
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G. Douglas Dreisbach is the publisher of Southern & Midwest Gaming and Destinations, a regional gaming and travel magazine offering offering gaming tips, casino reviews, travel recommendations, special offers and more. G&D is considered to be the gaming authority of the region and subscriptions, tips and property reviews are available at GamingandDestinations.com.
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Lisa Robertson-Dziedzic is the Publisher and Editorial Director of Casino Player magazine and Strictly Slots magazine. For more than 30 years, Casino Player has thrived as America’s most popular gambling magazine. Over the decades, millions of gamblers have enjoyed and benefited from Casino Player’s gaming strategies, as well as its ever-changing lifestyle stories. In 1994, Lisa launched it’s sister publication, Strictly Slots, the nation’s only magazine written exclusively for slots and video poker players. Lisa is an accomplished director specializing in the casino gaming industry and has more than 35 years of publishing experience. For more information, visit www.casinocenter.com or email lrobertson@casinocenter.com.
Lisa Robertson-Dziedzic is the Publisher and Editorial Director of Casino Player magazine and Strictly Slots magazine. For more than 30 years, Casino Player has thrived as America’s most popular gambling magazine. Over the decades, millions of gamblers have enjoyed and benefited from Casino Player’s gaming strategies, as well as its ever-changing lifestyle stories. In 1994, Lisa launched it’s sister publication, Strictly Slots, the nation’s only magazine written exclusively for slots and video poker players. Lisa is an accomplished director specializing in the casino gaming industry and has more than 35 years of publishing experience. For more information, visit www.casinocenter.com or email lrobertson@casinocenter.com.
Prominence poker affiliation rank up. Michael Shackleford has a degree in math/economics.. Read More
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Michael Shackleford has a degree in math/economics from the University of California, Santa Barbara, class of 1988. In 1995 he completed his last actuary exam and has been an Associate of the Society of Actuaries ever since. In 2000 Michael turned his attention to the field of gambling where he currently works as a gaming mathematician and writer. He runs a web site on gambling, Wizardofodds.com, and serves as a consultant largely for new game developers. In addition he is the author of the book Gambling 102. Currently Michael resides in Las Vegas with his wife and three children.