Best Poker Players In The World Of All Time

Introduction

Poker, a game that relies on adept skills and strategy, has had many amazing players around the world. In this article, we will be getting to know some of the top poker players in the world and their achievements. Although it is difficult to single out the topmost player in the world, still enthusiast poker players can select their favourite player basis their interests and follow their gameplay to learn more from them.

List of the Greatest Poker Players of All Time

Many people like poker, which is seen as a game of skill, not luck. For skilled players, it can be a promising profession.

Many professional poker players in India participate in live tournaments and online games. Indian players' triumphs in global Poker Games have boosted the game's fame locally. 

Here is a list of some of the most popular professional Poker Players of all time:

Best Global Poker Players

Bryn Kenney

Bryn Kenny is from Long Beach, New York. He started playing poker at a young age and has performed exceptionally well in his poker journey. Kenney has secured the first rank in the All-Time Money List. He won two WSOP Bracelets: the first in the $1500 Six-Handed 10 Game Mix in 2014 and the second in the $2100 Bounty No Limit Hold’em Championship in 2024. The highlights of Bryn’s poker career are his performances in high-roller tournaments. He is known for his aggressive playing style and ability to adjust according to the situation. One of Bryn’s remarkable achievements is his performance in the 2019 Triton Million for Charity event in London, where he secured second place and won £16,890,509. His total live cash earnings are $67,015,920.

Justin Bonomo

Justin Bonomo is a famous poker player who has had great success. He ranks second on the All-Time Money List. He has won over $48 million in live tournaments, which impressively places him among the top earners in poker history. 2018 was a great year for Bonomo. He won over $25 million, got many titles, and solidified his status as one of the top players. From 2008 to January 2010, Bonomo represented Team Bodog, a famous poker brand. His total live cash earnings are $29,000,000. 

Stephen Chidwick

Stephen Chidwick, born in Deal, Kent, England, began playing poker at the age of 16. In 2013, he placed third in the European Poker Tour Prague Main Event. He won the WSOP Bracelet in the $25,000 Pot Limit Omaha (PLO) High Roller and earned  $1,618,417 in 2019. He ranked fourth in the Triton Million Poker Super High Roller Series for charity and won £4,410,000. His adaptability across different poker formats and consistency in performing at high-roller events depict his reputation as a top player. His total live earnings are $59,186,554.

Daniel Negreanu

Daniel Negreanu is one of the world’s most skilled poker players. He started playing in 1997 and earned recognition in professional poker, winning $21 million, two WPT championships and six WSOP bracelets. As of November 2023, Daniel Negreanu is the third-biggest live tournament poker winner of all time. His total live cash earnings are $42,000,000.

Erik Seidel

Erik Seidel is a renowned and respectable professional poker player who is celebrated for his exceptional skills and remarkable achievements. He has won 10 WSOP Bracelets: his first ever bracelet in the $2,500 Limit Hold'em in 1992 and his latest in the $50,000 Super High Roller in 2023. He won €100,000 in the Super High Roller in the 2015 European Poker Tour (EPT) Grand Final. Erik’s accomplishments have earned him a place in the Poker Hall of Fame. His poker journey is an inspiration for budding poker players, showcasing adaptability, perseverance, and strategic gameplay. His total live earnings are $46,983,256.

Phil Ivey

Phil Ivey is a well-known American poker pro, famous for his skills and many accomplishments in the poker industry. He won ten WSOP bracelets, cementing his place as a poker master. He also won a World Poker Tour (WPT) event and earned $23 million from live tournaments.  Ivey has triumphed in high-stakes tournaments, including the $2,500 No-Limit 2–7 Draw Lowball Event and the $2,500 1/2 Seven Card Stud Hi/Lo 1/2 Omaha Hi/Lo event. His total live cash earnings are  $42,000,000. 

Fedor Holz

Fedor Holz is a well-known German poker player. He excels in high-stakes games and greatly influences the poker scene. Holz has earned more than $32 million in poker tournaments, proving he is very good at the game. He is well-known for concentrating on high-stakes tournaments, in which he has repeatedly shown outstanding talent and strategic ability. His total live cash earnings are $40.2 Million.

Dan Smith 

Dan Smith is an American poker player who started playing at the age of 16. He is also a philanthropist who has collaborated with Peter Singer, founder of the non-profit organisation The Life You Can Save, to raise millions of dollars. His best live cash win until September 2024 is $8,765,628, and as of September 2024, his total winnings to date stand at $55,142,067.

Phil Hellmuth Jr

Phil Hellmuth Jr. is famous for his impressive poker successes. He has won the most World Series of Poker bracelets, with 17 to his name, which shows his great skill and consistency in poker. In 1989, he won the main event, a huge achievement that helped establish him as one of the best poker players ever. Hellmuth has won over $21.75 million in live tournaments. He is successful in WSOP and other significant poker events, proving he is a top player. His total live cash earnings are $30,229,237.

Bertrand Grospellier

Bertrand Grospellier started his gaming career as a professional StarCraft player before becoming intrigued about poker. He quickly rose to fame within the poker community. In 2007, he won the World Pour Tour (WPT) Festa El Lago and earned $1.4 million. He also won a WSOP Bracelet in the $10,000 Stud Championship and earned $331,639 in the same year. His total live earnings are $15,400,306.

Best Poker Players in India

Vivek Rajkumar

Vivek Rajkumar is an Indian American Poker player. He won the WPT Borgata Poker Open ME and bagged $1,424 500 in 2008. His other notable achievements include winning the 2008 L.A. Poker Classic $2500 NLH event and the 2009 L.A. Poker Classic $9,900 NLH event. His total live earnings are $8,080,012.

• Indian All-Time Money List - 1st
• Current Rank at All Time Money List - 152nd
• Best Live Cash - $3,652,345
• Total Online Earnings - $529,382
• Popularity Ranking - 226th

Santosh Suvarna

Santhosh Suvarna is an important person in the poker world. He used to run Rockets Poker Room in Bengaluru and is now in Dubai. According to Gutshot Magazine, Suvarna is famous for helping the industry and has $6 million in 2024. He succeeded by winning a poker tournament and earning $1,772,000.

• Current Rank at All Time Money List - 2nd
• Total live cash - $7,080,741
• Best Live Cash - $1,772,000

Nipun Java

Born and raised in New Delhi, Nipun Java resides in the US. This well-established Indian Poker player has been playing the game professionally since 2009. In 2017, Nipun Java and Aditya Sushant won a special poker award from the WSOP in India. His total live earnings are $2,901,359.

• Indian All-Time Money List - 3rd
• Current Rank at All Time Money List - 656th
• Best Live Cash - $270,509
• Global Poker Index Ranking - 921
• Popularity Ranking - 452

Ankit Ahuja

Ankit Ahuja is a business and tech consultant. Ankit Ahuja, ranked sixth, is a business and tech consultant. He has done well in many poker tournaments, making over $1.2 million in his live poker career.

• Indian All-Time Money List - 4th
• Current Rank at All Time Money List - 1930th
• Best Live Cash - $330,134
• Global Poker Index Ranking - 307
• Popularity Ranking - 6,652

Abhinav Iyer

Mumbai-based Abhinav Iyer is the first solo WSOP bracelet winner from India. In 2019, he claimed the gold bracelet and $565,346 prize money at WSOP’s The Closer event. The same year, he won the APT Vietnam Main Event and earned a whopping $98,055. At the WPT India 2019 High Roller, he finished in 12th position for INR 3,04,680. In January 2020, he finished in 73rd position in IPC's p 5o,000 NLH Main Event. His total live real money Poker earnings are $1,345,417.

• Indian All-Time Money List - 5th
• Current Rank at All Time Money List - 1730th
• Best Live Cash - $565,346
• Global Poker Index Ranking - 250
• Popularity Ranking - 3847 

Best Female Poker Players in India

Talented female poker players show off their amazing skills, winning many fans. Their expertise captivates countless hearts in the poker world.

Here are top 5 Indian female Poker players (as per the Hendon Mob database).

Nikita Luther

Nikita Luther is a professional player from Delhi. In 2018, she made history by winning a gold bracelet at the World Series of Poker in the $1,000 NLH Tag Team event in Las Vegas.

• Indian All-Time Money List -16th
• Current Rank at All Time Money List - 5,862
• Best Live Cash - $109,300
• Global Poker Index Ranking - 2,272
• Popularity Ranking - 2,197  

Anju Abrol

Anju Aborl is well-known in the tough poker scene for her smart mind and competitive nature. She is a role model for aspiring female poker players.

• Indian All-Time Money List - 68th
• Current Rank at All-Time Money List - 21,749
• Best Live Cash - $51,742
• Popularity Ranking - 21,683  

Muskan Sethi

Muskan Sethi started playing poker in college. She became well-known in the Indian poker community. She won the Asian Pacific Poker Tour India Main Event in 2018. In 2017, the President of India honoured her for being one of India's 100 most influential women. She has had notable finishes in various poker tournaments worldwide. This includes tournaments like the Deltin Poker Tournament and World Poker Tour. She has also excelled in the European Poker Tour and World Series of Poker.

• Indian All-Time Money List - 74th
• Current Rank at All Time Money List - 22,374
• Best Live Cash - $13,107
• Global Poker Index Ranking - 14,430
• Popularity Ranking - 1,403

Minissha Lamba

Minissha Lamba, the pretty Bollywood actress, started playing poker as a fun hobby. Over time, she became more interested in the excitement and fun of the game. She attended the India Poker Championship and frequented the Deltin Poker Tournament. In November 2018, she participated in the 100K High Roller event at the World Poker Tour India at Deltin Royale, Goa. She finished as the runner-up.

• Indian All-Time Money List - 96th
• Current Rank at All-Time Money List - 26,750
• Best Live Cash - $33,058
• Global Poker Index Ranking - 55,856
• Popularity Ranking - 14,980

Suchi Chamaria

Suchi is famous in the Indian poker scene. She has taken part in many tournaments and events.

• Indian All-Time Money List - 316th
• Current Rank at All-Time Money List - 92,043
• Best Live Cash - $5,488
• Global Poker Index Ranking - 24,528
• Popularity Ranking - 476,537

Frequently Asked Questions

How much do poker players make?

Poker player earnings vary widely based on skill level, game type, and frequency. Good players in low-stakes games can make $600 to $5,000 monthly.

Who is the best celebrity poker player?

Determining the best celebrity poker player is subjective. Notable celebrities like Tobey Maguire, Matt Damon, and Ben Affleck are often highlighted for their poker skills.

Who are the most popular poker players?

Some of the most popular poker players include Phil Hellmuth, Doyle Brunson, Daniel Negreanu, Phil Ivey, Justin Bonomo, and Bryn Kenney, known for their skills and tournament successes.

Who is the poker player with the most WSOP bracelets?

Phil Hellmuth holds the record for the most World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelets with 16 wins, making him the player with the most WSOP bracelets.

Conclusion

The poker world is rich with skilled poker players who have left a memorable mark on the game's history. As poker's popularity continues to rise globally, with the success of professional poker players from various backgrounds, it is evident that it remains a game where skill, strategy, and dedication play an essential role.