With poker becoming very popular on TV, many of the top players have become celebrities. Poker has gone from the seedy back rooms, behind closed doors, to a made for TV production. Here are some of the people we never would have heard of if this change didn’t happen.
Daniel “kid poker” Negreanu is one of the bright stars in the world of poker. He seems to be in every game that gets air time. You also see him in Poker Stars commericials.
He has an impressive tournament record. Danile has won four WSOP bracelets, and over $10,000,000 in prize money. He has a pleasant demeanor at the tables, very talkative and cheerful.
Doyle “Texas Dolly” Brunson is a poker ledgend that still battles the younger players. He has been there from the beginning, I think he has played in every WSOP Main Event. Doyle has won the Main Event twice, and 8 other WSOP titles for a total of 10 bracelets. This total is tied for second all time with Johnny Chan, one behind Phil Helmuth’s 11. He was playing poker way back when poker was played in the back rooms without recognition.
Many consider Doyle the best poker player of all time. He has won big events in four different decades. Born in 1933 Doyale won a major event as late as 2004 at age 71, and his last bracelet in 2005, at 72. Last year Doyle had a good run in the $50,000 WSOP HORSE event going out 16th and cashing $124,000.
Anni Duke is one of the best in a game that is dominated by men. There are other great women players, but Annie has gained a lot of popularity to go with her success. She gained a lot of notoriety when she finished 10th in the 2000 WSOP Main Event. It was a significant achievement, especially when you consider that she was eight months pregnant.
2004 was an outstanding year for Annie. She finally won a WSOP bracelet. She followed this up by winning the 2004 World Series of Poker Tournament of Champions, and collecting a cool $2 million for her efforts. She developed her game while growing up, at home, battling her brother Howard Lederer, another outstanding poker pro,
Phil Ivey is just a poker monster. Many consider him the best in the game. He is equally good in cash games and tournaments. He is a calm, focused. calculating, and an aggressive player at the tables. He also handles himself with a lot of class.
He took the WSOP by storm in 2002 by capturing 3 bracelets that year. Only three other players have accomplished that feat. He adds two other WSOP wins to have a total of 5 bracelets. He has gone deep into the WSOP Main Event three times, going out 10th, 20th, and 25th.
Phil Helmuth is a Texas holdem tournament specialst. He has turned that skill into being the winningest player at the WSOP. He has won 11 bracelets, most by any player, all playing Texas holdem. In 1989, at age 24, he became (and still is) the youngest player ever to win the WSOP Main Event.
Phil is a volitile player, which actually adds to his celebrity. He has gone into an angered rage many times, berating other players when things don’t go his way. Phil is commonly known as the “poker brat” due to his behavior.
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