The legends of poker are an inspiration for all poker aficionados. From a novice to an advanced player, the legacy of professionals stands as a benchmark, a challenge as well as a push to achieve their own dreams. The life of a poker pro is not an easy one, and to know that others are following the same struggles and still making it big, is an eye-opener.
No matter how one learned to play poker or which of the poker variants a player plays – Texas Hold’em or Omaha Poker, the passion of the game is being passed on to future generations and to remind you that despite the struggle, this mind game is worth it. Following are the Top 10 lesser known facts about Poker Legends:
- Stu Ungar is considered to be the greatest players of all time – first because of Gin Rummy and second credit goes to Tournament Poker. Before he took up poker as profession, Ungar was ranked among top winning players in Gin Rummy tournaments.
- Doyle “Texas Dolly” Brunson, the greatest poker legend to ever live, is known as “The Godfather”. This legend of poker has won WSOP ME twice, and stands among only four players who have won the Main Event title multiple times.
- The most inimitable of all poker players, Phil Hellmuth holds a remarkable fourteen WSOP bracelets as 2015. He won his first bracelet in 1989, taking down the Main Event Championship.
- Annette Obrestad “Annette_15” became the youngest Bracelet Winner after winning WSOPE Main Event 2007 at the age of 18 years and is a role model for all female players.
- Barbara Enright became the first female player to make poker history when in 1995 she made it to the final table of the WSOP Main Event. This feat has not been repeated since then and we still await a female WSOP Main Event Champion.
- Paul McKinney popularly known as “Cigar” is the oldest player to won 2005 $1,000 Seniors’ No Limit Hold’em Event at an age of 80.
- Jack Ury made his poker debut at an age of 94 in 2007 WSOP Main Event. He continued to play in following years, and became the oldest ever WSOP participant in 2010 WSOP, that time he was aged 97.
- Phil Hellmuth holds the highest record of cashing in more than 100 WSOP events throughout his career, and takes the mantle of making over 50 final tables in WSOP which any other player is yet to make.
- Mark Newhouse made back-to-back final tables in 2013 and 2014, though he was knocked out at ninth position in both the years. The former saw the participation of 6,352 players and in 2014 the entries increased to 6,683 players.
- David Sklansky has been designated a name “The Mathematician” as he used to follow a mathematical approach while playing poker. Also a popular poker author, Sklansky has authored 13 books in the category of gambling and poker.
