When it comes to getting cards, some people are good at it—others aren’t. Some people are downright terrible at it.
As we’ve learned from watching Poker Night at the Inventory and studying the art of card play, the best players can use their emotions and psychological tactics to keep their opponents on edge, leading to superior strategic thinking, decision-making, and winning, precisely like the players of casinotoplists.
So who are the greatest card players of all time? We put together a list of the greatest card players of all time—and the key to their success.
Doyle Brunson, known as “Texas Dolly,” was a pioneer in the poker world and one of the most influential players in history. With 10 WSOP bracelets, including two Main Event titles (1976, 1977), he helped shape the modern game. His book Super System remains one of the most respected poker strategy guides. Brunson retired in 2018 but left behind a legacy that will never be forgotten.
When poker first became popular with the masses in 2003, “Texas Dolly” was already a legendary figure.
Brunson isalso widely regarded as one of the best authors on poker strategy, having produced works during the age just before the poker boom. His Super System and its sequel, Super System 2, are still considered two of the best poker strategy manuals ever written.
A six-time WSOP bracelet winner, Daniel “Kid Poker” Negreanu is known for his uncanny ability to read opponents and adapt his strategy. With over $50 million in live tournament earnings, he is one of poker’s most successful and recognizable figures. A former PokerStars ambassador, Negreanu has played a key role in growing the game worldwide.
When the poker boom hit in the middle of the 2000s, Daniel Negreanu was already well on his way to being one of the most prominent players in the game.
In those classic poker TV shows, “Kid Poker” was a regular fixture. Negreanu was PokerStars’ most visible representative from 2007 until 2019.
You may find a list of the “Most Popular Players” on Hendon Mob, the largest poker database in the world. Players are ranked according to how frequently their names appear in clickable lists across the site.
By a wide margin, Negreanu is the best player on the team. Negreanu is the modern-day embodiment of what Doyle Brunson represents for poker.
Dan Smith, often called “Cowboy Dan”, is one of the most successful tournament poker players of the modern era. Known for his strategic brilliance and consistency in high-stakes events, Smith has amassed over $40 million in live tournament earnings, placing him among the top all-time money winners in poker history.
Major Achievements of Dan Smith
Smith is respected not only for his poker success but also for his analytical mind, adaptability, and sportsmanship. His ability to navigate high-roller fields packed with elite competition has solidified his reputation as one of the best modern tournament players. With a WSOP bracelet, multiple high-roller titles, and a commitment to giving back, Dan Smith is a true ambassador of the game.
One of the most accomplished female players in history, Jennifer Harman has won two WSOP bracelets, making her one of the few women to dominate at the highest levels. A regular in high-stakes cash games, she was a key figure in the Full Tilt Poker team and remains an inspiration for female players.
While Harman was a regular on classic poker TV series like Poker After Dark and High Stakes Poker and WSOP episodes, she hasn’t seen much in recent years. Harman is one of the most recognizable female players of all time, and she is universally recognized as a prominent performer from the 2000s.
With over $4 million in live tournament earnings, Maria Ho is one of the most successful and visible women in poker today. Beyond her impressive results, she has gained fame as a poker commentator, hosting coverage for PokerGO and major tournaments like the Super High Roller Bowl.
Ho has an equally stellar record at the poker table. Her career earnings total more than 4 million, including multiple six-figure fistfuls of cash. The $540,020 that she won by placing second in a $5,000 No Limit Hold ’em event at the 2011 WSOP is her best tournament result to date.
Often flying under the radar compared to flashier players, Erik Seidel has built one of the most remarkable careers in poker history. His key accomplishments include:
The most prestigious poker tournaments ever won by a single player are all held by Phil Ivey. He has taken his poker profession to new heights thanks to his natural ability and dogged determination.
Phil Ivey is widely regarded as one of the greatest poker players of all time, known for his exceptional skill in both live tournaments and high-stakes cash games. His major achievements include:
Both Ivey and Seidel are poker legends, known for their ability to adapt across eras, master various formats, and remain dominant in an ever-evolving game. Their tournament victories, cash game prowess, and Poker Hall of Fame inductions make them two of the greatest card players of all time.
During the mid-2000s poker boom, Vanessa Rousso became a household name. With over $3.5 million in career tournament earnings, sponsorships from PokerStars and GoDaddy, and a deep run in the 2006 WPT Five-Star World Poker Classic, Rousso was one of the most prominent female players of her era
With over $12 million in tournament winnings, Vanessa Selbst is the most accomplished female poker player in history. She won three WSOP bracelets, multiple high-roller events, and was the first woman to reach #1 on the Global Poker Index. Though she retired from professional poker in 2018, she remains a legendary figure in the game.
By a wide margin, Vanessa Selbst has more tournament poker titles than any other female player in history. For Selbst, the big wins began in 2006, when she built a resume that would eventually include roughly $12 million in earnings by 2020. After 15 more years of success, three of Selbst’s seven-figure paychecks came in the 2010s. Partouche Poker Tour Cannes Main Event in 2010 was the most significant payoff in Selbst’s career, paying out €1,300,000.
Poker pro-Vanessa Selbst said she was retiring in 2018, yet she keeps popping up in tournaments here and there anyhow. Whether or not she has officially retired, Selbst is undoubtedly one of the most well-known poker players of the modern era.
Many great poker players have existed throughout history, but these ten deserve special recognition for their place in poker lore.
With over $57 million in live tournament earnings, Bryn Kenney is among the highest-earning poker players of all time. His biggest payday came in the 2019 Triton Million for Charity, where he won $20.5 million—the largest single prize ever won in a poker tournament.
