My favorite poker player of all time is still Chris Moneymaker and yours should be too. He was the first "internet player" of the new age. The original young gun. The movement his 2003 main event victory gave birth to is the reason 99% of you can be a professional poker player today.

Was he the most talented? No. The most hardworking and well studied? I hope not for his sake. Did he play pretty well in that Main Event by 2003 donkament standards? You bet your ass.

He was a part time player that had only been playing for like 3 or 4 years with very few study resources to draw from. Nobody with such a tiny bankroll and such little experience and free time had been able to play in the main event before. Also, by 2003 standards, his tables were stacked: Phil Ivey, Johnny Chan, Dan Harrington, Sam Farha, David Grey, Jason Lester, Humberto Brenice, Dutch Boyd etc.

He knew he needed to be aggressive to win the thing and he never stopped bluffing at any point down the stretch. Heads up against Farha, he raised the turn when a spade came turning his rags into a BDFD and straight draw. Then when he bricks the river he shoves, effectively shoving for a million in tournament prize equity. Making Sam Farha lay down top pair second kicker in a heads up pot. That was probably the last time Farha laid down top pair including Omaha. Seriously how many of you are making that play in 2003 in that spot probably one of your first times playing live for a million? He played to win and Farha played not to lose and that is the definition of running someone over on the felt.

He coolered and luck boxed and faded everything that was televised, but he will always be my favorite player no matter how much better than him I become at poker. When you see him, say thank you because without him noob stomping countless seasoned live pros in that tournament you would probably not be where you are right now.

wp

nice try chris

Channel the spirit of Johnny Hughes

what year is it

Now he's broke and grinds nj sites

Nice post.

Where would you expect him to be grinding cicackman? It doesn't sound to me like he is the sort of guy who should be trying to grind high stakes

I think he's one of the good guys in poker as well. Does anybody have any stories about him being a douche?

When he isn't on the road you can find Chris playing Omaha 20-40 at the Horseshoe in Tunica many weekends. You are more than welcomed to come and play.

You got any predictions for poker going onward?
Looking forward to what 2004 and 2005 have in store.

Are you his wife? That doesn't mean he isn't bu

lol you have to be legit to beat the old dried up nits who fill Tunica poker rooms - real high level crowd.

So sad lol, even 14 years later jealous haters still gonna hate! ha!

yeah OP, me and chris go way back.One time me and chris moneymaker..... i call him "Ole Chris Monkeyspanker" burned down the seminole hardrock casino in Florida on a tuesday afternoon because they wouldnt honor our freeplay on the fluffy dice craps machine. i think theyre still remodeling after that fire.

yeah me and chris used to have some good ole times. until he won that poker tourney and changed the fate of the universe as we know it. yes sir hes a stand up guy thru and thru....... and a bit of a pyromaniac.

Anyone else got some good Moneymaker stories ? we'd all love to hear em.

Saw some 2003 main event the other day and brought back some serious nostalgia.

Ill always remember how he led the Las Vegas Moneymakers to the first ever Global Poker League championship!!

Likely 1st round poker HOF pick as well.

Nice.

you wont become better than Moneymaker, he's a good poker player.

also he got in on a $40 pokerstars satellite that he accidentally registered thinking it was a online tourney for cash prize. and he wanted to sell his seat for cash but his friend convinced him not to. he was a total degen too there is a good documentary out there somewhere with all this info , very interesting.

yeah moneymaker should go into the hall of fame for sure.

Played with him for a hour in a UKIPT i think on the Isle of Man. Nothing negative to say was having fun chatting with everyone seemed a genuine nice guy.

Unlike a lot of fish on heaters, Chris recognized that he wasn't the best at poker and didn't jump into the high stakes after his win. He put his money in the bank and into safe investments so he's set for life. His primary income now comes as a sponsored pro. I've heard him say all his live buyins are paid for by Pokerstars, so he's on a lifetime freeroll. He's playing on PSNJ because that's where Stars wants him to do marketing. He's still a very recognizable figure in the United States, more than someone like mojave or Lex Velhuis.

I remember shortly after his win he appeared on Letterman. That alone brought thousands of people to online poker tables, including me.

did moneymaker die?

Something like this:

Paradise Poker opened 1997

Planet Poker opened 1999

Party Poker opened in August 2001

Poker Stars opened September 2001

Chris Moneymaker 2003

Nope but a bit of nostalgia never hurts so let it roll.

have not read the first post. but yes. chris is one of the best things that ever happend to poker