The World’s Greatest Poker Stars

By Christine Rudolph | September 15, 2021

People aren’t born the world’s greatest poker star; just like any sport, you have to put time and effort into the game to get any real results. All of the people on this list practice and practice before a big game so they can understand social cues, be aware of the cards and stop themselves from giving away the game.

You can practice just like the big leagues do by joining online casino platforms, like Fanduel casino. That way, when you pull up to your friend’s table, you will know exactly how to lay your hand.

So who are the world’s greatest poker players, and how much have they won?

Bryn Kenney – New York, USA

Although Kenney had been in the gaming industry for years, it was in 2019 that he really became his own. Playing in the August event “Triton Million,” this New Yorker won the biggest prize of his life. A whopping $20,563,324!

This win took him from 8th to 3rd in the top player’s list, which is an unheard-of leap! Such a dramatic change earned him the name “Mega Crusher.” 

In 2007, Bryn Kenny was a Magic: The Gathering player, but he switched to poker in 2014 when he won his first World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet. Now he is the best poker player in the world!

Justin Bonomo – Virginia, USA

Bonomo started his poker career at the tender age of 16. Regardless of his youth, he made an impressive win at Paradise Poker when his $500 deposit turned into $10,000. Such a win got him noticed, and it wasn’t long before this child started joining televised events.

In his first game on TV, Bonomo took home $40,815, which is more than most Americans take home in a year!

Until recently, Bonomo was most listicles’ number one poker star, but don’t let the drop fool you. This 35-year-old wins almost every table he sits at. His biggest prize was a life-changing $20 Million.

Daniel Negreanu – Toronto, Canada

Negreanu won the World Series of Poker in 2004 and in 2013, and during that, the Global Poker Index dubbed this Canadian star the “Player of the Decade.” This was a title well earned as Negreanu holds 6 WSOP bracelets and 2 World Poker Tour titles!

These wins were record-breaking, as Daniel Negreanu is the only player to win World Series of Poker bracelets in Australia, Europe, and Las Vegas!

When you watch Negreanu play, it’s almost like he can read his opponent’s cards through the back of their hand. His ability to accurately plan for their moves is truly inhuman! This type of skill shows you just how great his game is!

Erik Seidel – New York, USA

Seidel was in professional poker circles before the internet introduced a fast and easy way to understand and build revenue in the game. Although his nickname “Sly” had been floating around the tables for a while, Seidel really showed everyone how great he was in 1988 when he won second place in the World Series of Poker’s Main Event. 

This game was so influential to the world of poker that they turned it into a movie. “Rounders” was produced and released to the public in 1998, a decade after Seidel’s fantastic win.

Since that legendary moment, Seidel has won 8 World Series of Poker bracelets!

Dan Smith – New Jersey, USA

Smith is the only player on this list that hasn’t won a World Series of Poker bracelet, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t able to flash the cash. In total, so far, Smith has won over $36 million in official poker prize money!

In 2012, this New Jersey lad started to become a career gambler when he won the Aussie Millions Poker Championship. Smith also proved that he could win a four-day event when he smashed the NHLE 2012 games in Monte Carlo.

His most recent impressive win was in 2018 when he came in third place, scoring his biggest cash prize ever; $8,765,628.

Stephen Chidwick – Kent, England

Stephen Chidwick is an online player’s dream. Known as “Stevie444” on these platforms, he was mostly playing online until December 2018. It was at this time that Chidwick made the most significant run so far in his career. Throughout 2018 and 2019, Chidwick won a World Series of Poker bracelet and finished 4th, taking home a game-changing $5,368,947.

Chidwick is considered a high roller in the tournament scene, and although he has swept the online poker world by storm, it doesn’t look like he will leave the televised tables for a while!

David Peters – Ohio, USA

David Peters is also known as the Silent Assassin because of his uncanny ability to slip into the background and take your money. It turns out Peters prefers the online poker scene, but that doesn’t mean he is leaving the televised tables.

Peters has won 2 World Series of Poker bracelets in his short career and is slowly climbing up the ranks. COVID-19 put a halt in his ascent, but in 2021, Peters showed that the time away hasn’t stopped his growing accomplishments, as he won the U.S Poker Open’s Player of the Series for the second time in a row!

Fedor Holz, Saarbrücken, Germany

Ever since 2016, this young player has been rising in fame. He won a World Series of Poker bracelets during this season, taking home a strangely straight $111,111. Just weeks after, he then claimed 2nd place when he played the Super High Roller Bowl! His 1st place rival was Justin Bonomo himself!