Trying to establish the best poker player in the world is a tough task, with so many factors to consider. Even when looking at more specific areas, let’s take the best tournament player in the world as an example, there is still much cause for debate.
The Hendon Mob recently published a very interesting list, which has fanned the flames of the old debate. It isn’t simply a list of career earnings in tournaments, it has been adjusted to account for inflation of the US dollar. This seems fair, considering that someone like Doyle Brunson won his two Main Event bracelets back in 1976 and 1977 and the $340,000 in prize money for the latter, would have stretched a lot further in those days than in modern times. Brunson is 15th in the all time money list after accounting for inflation (previously 35th).
Other big movers include TJ Cloutier and Johnny Chan, who move to 4th and 8th respectively, jumping six and eight places each. Chan’s Main Event wins came in 1987 and 1988 while 40% of Cloutier’s World Series of Poker prize money was earned in the last century.
The rest of the top ten reads like a who’s who of poker, featuring the inevitable names of Daniel Negreanu (3rd. Plays at PokerStars), Scotty Nguyen (6th) and Erik Seidel (9th). However, the most interesting change is at the top, as Phil Ivey (who leads the regular all time money list with $12.8 million. Plays at Full Tilt Poker) is narrowly beaten into top spot by “Poker Brat” Phil Hellmuth (plays at UB.com). Hellmuth is 4th in the regular all time money list with just under $11 million in tournament winnings, but he jumps three places into the top spot once inflation is considered.
As interesting as comparing the two lists of tournament earnings is, we’re still no closer to knowing who the better player is. Hellmuth may have won more World Series of Poker bracelets than anyone else with eleven, but all of them are in Texas Hold’em, the majority at No Limit. Ivey’s seven bracelets are in a wide range of games and he is yet to win a Hold’em bracelet at the World Series. Hellmuth’s bracelet wins date back to 1989, while Ivey only scooped his first World Series title in 2000, making for an impressive seven bracelets in the last decade.
Does Ivey’s range make him better a player? Possibly. Had he been playing at the World Series since 1989, would he have accumulated more bracelets than Hellmuth and yet more tournament prize money? Maybe. Hellmuth’s specialist expertise must surely make him the more feared Hold’em player? Arguably.
Let’s call it a draw.
Play Poker with the best players in the world
If you want to play poker with the best there are several poker sites that sponsor, or are the prefered cardrooms of, some of the best players in the world. In particular we recommend the following sites:
Full Tilt Poker - Phil Ivey, Tom ‘durrrr’ Dwan, Patrik Antonius, Howard Lederer, Chris Ferguson, John Juanda, Jennifer Harman, Phil Gordon, Erick Lindgren, Erik Seidel, Andy Bloch, Mike Matusow, Gus Hansen, Allen Cunningham.
UB.com – Phil Hellmuth, Annie Duke, Adam “Roothlus” Levy, Brandon Cantu, Bryan Devonshire, Debo34 (Gary Debernardi), Eric Baldwin, Hollywood Dave, Joe Sebok, Maria Ho, P0ker H0(Mark Kroon), Scott Ian, Tiffany Michelle.
Poker Stars - Daniel Negreanu, Chris Moneymaker, Jonathan Duhamel, Joe Hachem, Vanessa Rousso, Greg Raymer, Bertrand Grospellier, Isildur1, Joe Cada, Ivan Demidov, … and many more.
Betsson Poker is a great poker room and offers 40% cash back Note that US players can not play here | |
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