Like many other games, poker has numerous players who could lay claim to being classed as the ‘greatest of all-time’.
Players like Chip Reese, Stu Ungar and Doyle Brunson laid the foundations for the stars of today, helping to grow poker’s global popularity.
Deciding who is the best ever is an impossible task, particularly with the landscape changing rapidly across the poker world with the introduction of online play.
However, it certainly is possible to narrow down the field a little, so read on as we assess three of the best modern poker players to ever grace the game.
Phil Hellmuth Jr
With a record 15 World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelets to his name, it is impossible to ignore Hellmuth’s claims as one of the best players the game has ever seen.
The self-styled ‘Poker Brat’ has won over $22 million in live tournaments and holds the record for the most WSOP cash finishes (108).
He is known as a Texas Hold ‘em specialist, although he has enjoyed plenty of success in other versions of the game.
If you were to choose one man to play up your winnings from the Tropicana casino bonus, Hellmuth would certainly be high up your list.
Daniel Negreanu
Negreanu has won six WSOP bracelets, two World Poker Tour championships and numerous other titles during his glittering career.
He won his first major tournament at the World Poker Finals at Foxwoods in 1997 at just 21 years of age and has gone on to establish himself as one of the game’s finest ever players.
Negreanu’s laid back style has made him a favourite with fans around the world, but behind the smile lurks a player with a steely determination.
The Canadian has even made appearances in the X-Men series of films, highlighting his appeal to a global audience.
Phil Ivey
Ivey has won ten WSOP bracelets, one World Poker Tour title and appeared at nine World Poker Tour final tables.
Many respected poker pundits rate the American as the best all-round player in the world, with his ability to master different versions of the game setting him apart from his contemporaries.
Ivey has famously been involved in a huge legal battle over the past few years, with a casino in Atlantic City awarded a $10.1m judgement against him over an ‘edge-sorting’ scheme in baccarat.
However, that decision didn’t appear to affect him too much, as he cashed in four events during the 2018 WSOP.
