The most successful players in the World Series of Poker

Poker is not only one of the most popular games played at a casino, but it is also becoming increasingly popular on our television screens. Perhaps it’s the appeal of watching Phil Hellmuth have a meltdown or Daniel Negreanu predicting his opponent’s cards, either way, it’s enough to get us watching.

People are also incredibly taking part in online poker tournaments, in the hope that they can become the next big player in poker circles. Of course, it’ll be tough to beat the very best, as they have proven just how good they are when taking part in the World Series of Poker tournaments. Here we take a look at the most successful players to take part in the WSOP and just how many bracelets they have won.

Johnny Chan

In the space of 20 years, Johnny Chan racked up 10 WSOP bracelets, with his first coming in the 1985 $1,000 Limit Hold’em tournament. His prize for winning was $171,000 the largest of all of the WSOP tournaments in 1985. Although he won the preliminary event, he was unable to achieve success in the main event.

His most recent win was in the 2005 $2,500 Pot Limit Hold’em, where Chan not only claimed his 10th WSOP bracelet but also won $303,025.

Not all of his WSOP wins were in the preliminary events, as Chan managed to win the main event consecutively in 1987 and 1988. In 1987 he walked away with $625,000, while he improved his prize money the following year, pocketing a cool $700,000.

Doyle Brunson

One of the most recognisable names in the poker community, Doyle Brunson has, like Johnny Chan, won 10 WSOP bracelets. Brunson is widely regarded as one of the best poker players in the history of the WSOP.

He has won the main event on two occasions, and much like Chan, he did so in consecutive years. In 1976, Brunson won $220,000 in the main event, adding to his $80,250 he won in the $5,000 Deuce to Seven Draw in the preliminary events. A year later he won $340,000 in the main event on top of the $62,500 in the $1,000 Seven Card Stud Split.

Brunson’s ability to win multiple tournaments in the same year demonstrates just how good he was when he was playing at his best.

Phil Hellmuth

The Poker Brat is one of the most famous poker players on the circuit, with countless YouTube videos showing his outbursts when he loses. Despite an attitude that has caused more people to dislike him, he is the most successful player in WSOP, having won 15 bracelets throughout his career.

1989 was the first of his 15 bracelets and he won the main event, taking home an incredible $755,000. It was three years before he won another bracelet, winning the 1992 $5,000 Limit Hold’em, claiming the $168,000 prize.

1993 was a stellar year for the Poker Brat, as he managed to win not one, not two, but three WSOP bracelets. Although he was unable to win the main event, he did win the $2,500 No Limit Hold’em, $1,500 No Limit Hold’em, and $5,000 Limit Hold’em tournaments, totalling nearly $500,000 in prize money.