The Best Poker Players of All Time: Legends Who Changed the Game

Top 10 Best Poker Players of All Time

These famous poker players are poker’s biggest names, known for their wins, unique styles, and lasting impact. Let’s meet them.

Johnny Moss

Career Highlights: Nicknamed the “Grand Old Man of Poker,” Johnny Moss won the first World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event in 1970 by a vote and again in 1971 and 1974. He grabbed 9 WSOP bracelets and $834,422 in WSOP earnings, which was a life-changing sum in his time.

Playing Style/Technique: Moss played tough and was known to bet big and read opponents like a book, which made him a pro in all kinds of poker games.

Legacy & Influence: Inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 1979, Moss helped start the WSOP and inspired players with his fearless approach.

Doyle Brunson

Career Highlights: Known as “Texas Dolly,” Doyle Brunson won 10 WSOP bracelets, including the Main Event in 1976 and 1977. He also won a World Poker Tour (WPT) title at 71, with $6.2 million in tournament winnings.

Playing Style/Technique: Brunson played loose and bold, using his deep poker smarts to outwit opponents, especially in Texas Hold’em.

Legacy & Influence: His book Super/System changed how people play poker. A 1988 Poker Hall of Fame member, Brunson’s charm made him a fan favourite.

Phil Ivey

Career Highlights: Called the “Tiger Woods of Poker,” Phil Ivey has 11 WSOP bracelets, including the one he recently won in 2024, and $46.3 million in live winnings.

Playing Style/Technique: Ivey stays calm and reads opponents like nobody else, and excels in every poker game from Hold’em to mixed formats.

Legacy & Influence: Inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2017, Ivey’s skill in big games sets the bar high for today’s players.

Daniel Negreanu

Career Highlights: Also known as “Kid Poker”, Daniel Negreanu is ranked the third greatest of all time. He has 6 WSOP bracelets and 2 WPT titles with over $52 million in live earnings. He’s been WSOP Player of the Year twice.

Playing Style/Technique: Negreanu has a gift for reading people and switching up his game, plus his friendly vibe, makes him a star.

Legacy & Influence: A 2014 Poker Hall of Fame member, his YouTube vlogs and GGPoker role have made poker fun for millions.

Stu Ungar

Career Highlights: Stu Ungar won three WSOP Main Events (1980, 1981, 1997), matching Moss, with 5 bracelets and $3.7 million in winnings.

Playing Style/Technique: A card genius, Ungar played fast and bold, bluffing like no one else in Hold’em and even gin rummy.

Legacy & Influence: Despite his struggles ending in 1998, Ungar’s 2001 Poker Hall of Fame induction shows his unmatched talent.

Erik Seidel

Career Highlights: Erik Seidel has 10 WSOP bracelets, including one in 2023, and $50 million in earnings. He was second in the 1988 WSOP Main Event.

Playing Style/Technique: Seidel loves to play quietly but cleverly, and this has made him excel in high-stakes tournaments and mixed games, with a consistent winning streak over decades.

Legacy & Influence: A 2010 Poker Hall of Fame member, his long career and a famous Rounders hand make him a poker legend.

Phil Hellmuth

Career Highlights: The “Poker Brat” has a record of 17 WSOP bracelets, including Main Events in 1989 and 2012 (Europe), with $30 million in winnings.

Playing Style/Technique: Hellmuth plays tight but aggressive and has a gift for reading opponents’ minds. His outspoken personality has been known to often stir up debate.

Legacy & Influence: Inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2007, Hellmuth’s WSOP wins and TV appearances make him a huge name.

Chip Reese

Career Highlights: Chip Reese won 3 WSOP bracelets, including the first $1 million buy-in event in 2006, with $3.8 million in tournament winnings.

Playing Style/Technique: Being a master of cash games, Reese blended patience with bold plays, excelling in mixed games like H.O.R.S.E

Legacy & Influence: A 1991 Poker Hall of Fame inductee, Reese’s skill earned him the WSOP’s Chip Reese Memorial Trophy.

Tom Dwan

Career Highlights: Tom Dwan, a cash game star, has $6.7 million in live tournament winnings but no WSOP bracelets. He’s a legend on High Stakes Poker and online.

Playing Style/Technique: Dwan is wild, and his aggressive style keeps opponents guessing, especially in No-Limit Hold’em cash games.

Legacy & Influence: Not in the Poker Hall of Fame yet, Dwan’s daring play during the 2000s online boom inspires bold players.

Justin Bonomo

Career Highlights: Justin Bonomo has 3 WSOP bracelets, including the 2018 $1 million Big One for One Drop ($10 million), and $62.2 million in live earnings, second all-time.

Playing Style/Technique: Bonomo’s smart, focused style gives him an edge in huge buy-in events, backed by careful bankroll planning.

Legacy & Influence: His 2018 run with 10 major wins set a new standard, though he’s still chasing a Poker Hall of Fame spot.

Poker All-Time Money Winners

The Poker All-Time Money List, tracked by The Hendon Mob, shows who's won the most in live poker tournaments, excluding cash games or online play. It's about big paydays, but it doesn't tell the whole story about the skill of the player. Here are the top 10 as of 2025.

Legendary Players in the Poker Hall of Fame

The Poker Hall of Fame was started in 1979 by Benny Binion in Las Vegas to celebrate players who've made poker what it is today. Run by the WSOP since 2004, it honours skill and impact. Here are 10 standout members.

Best Players According to the Global Poker Index

The Global Poker Index (GPI), run by The Hendon Mob, ranks over 450,000 players based on their live tournament results over three years. It looks at buy-ins, cashes, and how tough the competition was. It shows who's hot right now, but it changes fast because live events are unpredictable. Here are the top 10 in early 2025.

2025's Most Famous Live Poker Players

The 56th WSOP in Las Vegas (May-June, Horseshoe and Paris) is going to be epic and will feature stars like Phil Hellmuth and Phil Ivey, with the $10,000 Main Event as the big draw. The PokerGO Tour (PGT) Championship, won by Jeremy Ausmus in 2024, will bring high rollers like Stephen Chidwick and Jason Koon, while the Triton Super High Roller Series in London and Monte Carlo will see Justin Bonomo and Bryn Kenney competing for huge prizes. Watch for Hellmuth vs. Ivey for bracelet glory or Ausmus vs. Chidwick for GPI bragging rights. Feel free to check out Natural8's "Road to Vegas 2025" for WSOP qualifier events.