Top 10 Greatest Poker Players of All Time

Unlike in many other sports, naming the top players of all time in professional poker can be tricky. Due to the nature of the game, it could be difficult to tell what makes a poker player great. They can be ranked through their winnings, but we think the amount of money they make is not the only thing that defines a good poker player.

So we made a list of the best poker players based on our own opinion. We considered their style of play, personality, and achievements. Please take note that this list is not absolute, and we do not mean to disrespect other great players that wouldn’t be included.

Here are the top 10 greatest poker players of all time, in no particular order:

Doyle Brunson – Texas Dolly

The first in our list is the one who stood against the test of time. Doyle Brunson, now 87 years old, played professional poker for over 50 years. Throughout his epic career, he has collected plenty of wins in his pocket, most notably his 10 World Series of Poker bracelets, including the Main Event in both 1976 and 1977. He even made a WSOP final table at age 84 and held the record of the oldest winner of a Poker Tour event at age 71 back in 2004.

He went down to be one of the most recognized poker players in history. He has a career tournament earnings of $6.2 Million. Brunson’s greatness comes from his instinct, natural feel for the game, and his experience of seeing thousands of hands over the years.

Johnny Moss – Grandfather of Poker

If you are ever called the Grandfather of Poker, that must mean something significant. Johnny Moss was a Texas road gambler, and his cash winnings cannot be determined. But as a professional poker player, he has 3 Main Event titles, 9 WSOP bracelets, and $1.25 Million in tournament winnings. He passed away in 1995, at age 88. He is remembered as a keen competitor by the game’s forerunners and his contemporaries.

Phil Hellmuth – The Poker Brat

After the Grandfather of Poker comes the Poker Brat. Phil Hellmuth is among the biggest names in the game today. He is also known as one of the toughest players with a brilliant understanding of poker. With 15 World Series of Poker bracelets and about $23 Million in earnings, you cannot deny that he has great skill. He won the WSOP Main Event in Las Vegas in 1989 and in Europe last 2012. However, he has yet to add his name to the Champions Cup. Hellmuth is currently eyeing to win a WPT title in the near future.

Justin Bonomo – ZeeJustin

With $44.6 Million in winnings, ZeeJustin is easily one of the top earners in the game. At only 34 years old, Justin Bonomo’s dominance in the world of poker seems to be just starting. He has won 18 major tournaments starting only from 2016. His most notable wins include taking the $1 Million Big One for One Drop at the WSOP for $10 Million. Bonomo succeeds against the top players in the world using his keen game sense and intellect.

Daniel Negreanu – Kid Poker

Daniel Negreanu, or “Kid Poker” as his fans call him, has been in the scene all the way back before the 2000s. He currently holds the record for the biggest live tournament poker winner of all time. Not only that, but he is also the first person to be named player of the year by the WSOP twice. Six WSOP bracelets, 2 WPT titles, and about $33 Million in tournament earnings, all make up for Negreanu’s current feats, and he is not stopping anytime soon.

Daniel Colman – mrGR33N13

He may not have the titles yet, but Daniel Colman has already accumulated more than $29 Million in earnings. At only 30 years old, he has managed to win a WSOP bracelet but has yet to get a WPT title for his name. Colman managed to kick Daniel Negreanu, the Kid Poker, out of the competition on The Big One for One Drop, winning over $15.3 Million. He mainly plays online poker and is known as “mrGR33N13.” We could expect Colman to bring more to the table in the next few years.

Phil Ivey – Tiger Woods of Poker

Despite accusations of cheating, Phil Ivey remains to be at the top of the poker world. He was the hottest young player back in the early 2000s, winning his first WSOP bracelet at age 23 and three more in one summer last 2002. His live tournament winnings amount to more than $26 Million. Whatever people may think about the issues surrounding this man, he has 10 WSOP bracelets, a WPT title, and respect and admiration among his peers.

Bryn Kenney – Mega Crusher

The number 1 in the all-time money list would surely make this list. Bryn Kenney has over $56 Million in live earnings, securing him the top spot. His skills make him a consistent finisher in the game. Kenney grew up playing Magic: The Gathering card game then transitioned to poker in 2007, joining his first tournament. He continued to win bigger and bigger stakes over the years until he won millions. In 2019, Kenney finished runner up in a £1 Million Triton event with a $20.5 million payday.

Dan Smith – Cowboy Dan

Dan Smith, also known as Cowboy Dan, is one of the players who dropped out of college to pursue their poker career. Needless to say, he definitely made it worth it. Aside from his $33 Million in live tournament earnings and his great skill and talent as a player, what sets him apart from other players is his charity work. He founded the Double Up Drive, which is a means for poker players to help those who are in need, and he has gathered a lot of support from his fellow players.

Fedor Holz – CrownUpGuy

Last but not least on our list is the German poker sensation, Fedor Holz. He is among the top players in online poker who transitioned to live games and found even greater success. By the year 2020, Holz has accumulated almost $33 Million in winnings and made it to the top of the poker scene. He is an analytical player who knows well about the risks of the game.

We know that the greatest players of all time are debatable, but we think that these people would definitely bring on a challenge to anyone they are playing against.