Top 5 Best Poker Players of All Time

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From new players to experienced up-and-comers, many people dream of being etched into the poker hall of fame. This is where the best players in the world reside, often after racking up millions across different poker tournament placings. In this article, we take a look at some of the top names in the poker space, while also covering their unique traits.

Most people that have watched poker will recognise the infamous name of Phil Ivey. He's considered to be the best poker player of his generation, and due to this, Phil is often referred to as the 'Tiger Woods of Poker'. His most impressive achievement is his collection of 10 World Series of Poker bracelets, with his haul of over $38 million being just another accolade. Throughout his outstanding career, Ivey has reached a total of 37 final tables and cashed an incredible 76 times.

Daniel Negreanu, born in July of 1974, is a professional poker player with total winnings in excess of $49 million. He is known for making crazy reads and has guessed the exact cards that players are holding on numerous occasions. Out of all the poker stars on this list, Daniel is the highest on the all-time money list, with only Bryn Kenney and Justin Bonomo above him. Negreanu utilises a mix of skill and mathematical genius when at the table, leading many to call him the greatest poker player ever.

The next player on this list, Stu Ungar, primarily played poker but liked to dabble in a variety of other casino table games. This includes blackjack and gin rummy, which is similar to poker in many regards. Gin rummy was much more popular before the turn of the 21st century, and Ungar was considered to be the very best at it. In 2003, a film titled 'High Roller: The Stu Ungar Story' was released in honour of the poker legend, who sadly passed away in 1998. Another fitting tribute came two years earlier, as he was inducted into the poker hall of fame in 2001.

Doyle Brunson, also known as the Texas Dolly, is a seasoned veteran when it comes to poker. He has played for over 50 years, and throughout this time, he has accumulated the same number of WSOP bracelets as Phil Ivey. Perhaps the highlight of Brunson's career is a record that will never be beaten, as he was the first poker player in history to reach a total of $1 million earned across tournaments. Doyle has since retired from the game, which he can do in complete comfort with over $6 million in total winnings to his name.

The last name on this list is Antonio Esfandiari, an Iranian poker player that has accumulated over $27 million during his prestigious career. Antonio is also known as the magician, which is based on his poker ability and previous job title. He has learned an array of jaw-dropping chip tricks that he displays on various platforms, often with some spectacular card cuts also thrown into the mix. Esfandiari has won 3 World Series of Poker bracelets and 2 World Poker Tour titles, with his first final table appearance being back in 2002.

That draws our list of the best poker players of all time to a close. For avid watchers and enjoyers of the game, some of the names on this list will likely come as no surprise. Each of these players has something unique to offer the game and has contributed significantly towards making poker immensely popular throughout the globe!

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