Who are the best American poker players of all time? That’s a tough question to answer because there are so many greats over the years. From John Montague to Dan “Jungleman” Cates, Americans have dominated the poker landscape since the game’s inception. Even now, in the post-Black Friday era, US players are among the best in the world. However, there are no women among them. This list only includes the top male American poker players ever. We’ll let the girls write their own article and pick their own top five (although we can pretty much guess how it’ll go). Meanwhile, here are the best American male poker pros in history.
#7 - Daniel Negreanu
Poker Earnings: $43.8 Million
It might surprise some people to see Daniel Negreanu this low down on the list of greatest American poker players. However, as we’ve said, this is a tough one to call. What isn’t up for debate is Kid Poker’s status as a poker legend. He’s won six WSOP bracelets and numerous other titles. Not to mention two WSOP Europe main events and a trio of WPT titles. Along the way, Negreanu has beaten some of the best players in the world and taken more than $40 million in tournaments alone.
Michigan Online Casinos That Offer a No Deposit Bonus in '23Of course, success doesn't necessarily make you one of the best American poker players ever. However, when you add Negreanu’s influence into the equation, he deserves to be recognized. He’s written books, produced coaching sites, and been a vocal advocate for poker. Yes, his GPL team, the Los Angeles Angels, didn’t have much success. However, that doesn’t detract from Negreanu’s status as an all-time great. Indeed, when Phil Hellmuth finally croaks, DNegs should become the primary bearer of the “best American poker player ever” torch.
#6 - Todd Brunson
Poker Earnings: $6.2 Million
Duskal is not only one of the best online poker players ever but also one of the few US players to find fortune in cyberspace. Now, not everyone counts online results towards a player’s overall standing. However, I do. Why? Well, Duskal, aka Emil Patel, was the best at what he did, and he earned millions doing it. On top of his online exploits, Patel had some success in live tournaments. He won a bracelet in 2019 before events like the Summer Solstice and Midnight Swam open to all. Of course, we probably wouldn’t put him in our top ten American poker players if it weren’t for The Ironman Poker Challenge. Between May 2000 and September 2001, Patel played in 56 consecutive online events. Incredibly, he cashed in 41 of them. That, for me, makes him one of the best American poker players of all time.
Amazing American Poker Pros
#5 - Doyle Brunson
Poker Earnings: $6.1 Million
Todd wasn’t the only member of the Brunson clan to make our list of the top American poker players ever. His dad, Doyle, had to be included. Texas Tod was a true giant of the game. He honed his skills playing in illicit games across his home state before taking his show on the road in the 1970s. Within a few years, Brunson was regarded as the world’s best player. He went on to win ten WSOP bracelets and two WSOPEs before retiring from tournament poker in 2018. Brunson was also a published author and helped popularize the game through his books. Indeed, textbooks such as Super/System remain seminal works in the poker canon. Simply put, without Tex Dolly, modern poker would be very different. Therefore, he deservedly gets a spot in our hall of American poker greats.
#4 - Dan Hamdan
Poker Earnings: $4.6 Million
If you spent any time watching high-stakes poker streams in the 2010s, you’ll know who Dan “Jungleman” Cates is. To some, he’s a crazy staker who ran through millions of dollars. To others, he’s a poker genius that outmuscleled, outplayed, and outwitted the likes of Tom Dwan, Phil Ivey, and Isildur1. Personally, I see Cates as one of the best American poker players alive. Why? Well, this dude has risked his roll in high-stakes cash games and done things with PLO that no one else has done before. Yes, he may have lost the majority of his epic battle with Isildur1. However, Jungleman managed something no one else has by consistently beating full-time online sharks and winning multiple big events along the way. Oh, and he picked up several high-profile victories against Dwan, aka the strongest cash game player of his generation.
#3 - Johnny Chan
Poker Earnings: $8.7 Million
Best PA Online Casinos ️- Top PA Casino Sites (2023)From 1987 to 1988, Johnny Chan won two WSOP Main Events. During that time, he uttered the phrase “you can’t handle the Chan!” as he scooped back-to-back big dances. Today, some people may forget just how good this man was/is. With ten WSOP bracelets and two WSOPEs, plus countless titles around the world, he is one of the most successful tournament players in history. Yes, his public spatting with Phil Ivey hasn’t painted him in the best light in recent years. However, that doesn’t change what he achieved. Therefore, Johnny Chan gets a place in our top three American poker players of all time.
#2 - Erik Seidel
Poker Earnings: $11.2 Million
Erik Seidel could easily lay claim to being the greatest poker player of all time. Okay, that may be pushing things a little. However, when you look at his record, it’s hard not to view him as one of the best Americans to ever play the game. Why? Well, the New Yorker has won nine WSOP bracelets and two WSOPEs. Oh, and he came third in a second WSOP Main Event. Additionally, Seidel has won four EPT titles and tons of other major titles around the world. Despite picking up his first win in 1992, Seidel remained competitive long after many of his rivals had hung up their cards. In fact, the guy won events in the 2010s and 2020s. That kind of consistency deserves recognition.
#1 - Phil Hellmuth
Poker Earnings: $23.7 Million
For better or worse, no American poker player is as recognizable as Phil Hellmuth. Poker’s Poker has won more WSOP bracelets (16) than any other player. He holds dozens of records inside and outside of tournaments. From the longest cash streak to the most chips won in a single day, nobody comes close to Hellboy. However, you either love or hate Poker’s Poker. Some viewers are enthralled by his table talk and tactical timewasting. Others find him irritating at best and downright despicable at worst. One thing everyone can agree on is his talk. Over the years, Hellmuth has spoken about retiring, quitting, and moving to Australia. He’s even described certain tournaments as his last ever runs. Needless tosay, he’s yet to follow through on any of these threats. Even at the age of 55+, Poker’s Poker remains as competitive as ever. That makes him the best American poker player ever, in my book.
Other Noteworthy American Poker Players
Phil Ivey
He may be banned from numerous casinos and never have won an open WSOP, Phil Ivey still ranks among the best American poker players ever. Why? Well, he has numerous legitimate titles under his belt and is generally regarded as the greatest poker player of all time. Yes, luck played a part in some of his wins. For example, he shipped the 2000 Bellagio Five Diamond Classic despite having the lowest chip count at the start of the final table and getting incredibly lucky vs. Mahmoud Fatehi with A-4 offsuit against K-Q. However, that that doesn’t diminish his skill level. Ivey has beaten the best cash game lineups and taken down some of the biggest tournaments in the world via more conventional means. Furthermore, he proved he’s a better player than anyone else during the monumental Head-Up Championship section of Full Tilt Poker’s First Million contest in 2009/10.
best casino apps real moneyJohnny Chan
Making both lists, Johnny Chan clearly belongs in the conversation of the best American poker players ever.
Daniel Negreanu
See entry number seven.
Phil Hellmuth
See entry number eleven.
Doyle Brunson
See entry number five.
John Juanda
Stu Ungar
Some people believe Stuey is the best poker player of all time. Unfortunately, his addiction issues mean he can’t be considered among the greatest clean living, card-slingers in history. There is no denying his talent, however. Over a relatively short period, Ungar won three WSOP Main Events, numerous other bracelets and titles, and hundreds of thousands of dollars. Indeed, his third (and some say greatest) run began when he borrowed $5,000 and turned it into $10.7 million. Even now, players such as Antonio Esfandiari talk about the hole cards they’d show for respect with stacks equal to what Stuey once built with 10-2. That, for me, sums up why Ungar has to be acknowledged as one of America’s finest ever poker players.
Walter “Pappy” Waters
You may not have heard of Walter “Pappy” Waters, but he was a giant of the game in its early days. Despite only having one confirmed tournament win to his name, Pappy is believed to have won more money in poker before the advent of holdem than anyone else. Closer analysis suggests he earned around $2.6 million in 2022 dollars during his career. He also wrote one of the genre’s foundational texts - The Book of Poker. Published in 1949, it has sold more than two million copies. At a time when information was scarce, The Book of Poker helped shape the game as we know it today. For these reasons, Waters must be recognized as one of the best American poker players ever.
Tom McEvoy
Tom McEvoy has been competing at the highest level since the 1970s.
Bobby Baldwin
Chip Reese
Reese was so good he was asked to leave the Golden Nugget because he was cleaning out the casino.
Johnny Moss
Known as the “grand old man of poker,” Johnny Moss is often referred to as the first World Series of Poker champion, having been selected as the winner in 1970 and 1971.
Erik Lindgren
one star casinoAffectionately nicknamed “Godolphin” due to his habit of naming his cars after famous racehorses, Erik Lindgren was a beast in every format.
Ted Forrest
A high-stakes cash game wizard and event specialist, Ted Forrest is perhaps best known for his 12-hour heads-up battle with Philip Hilm during the No-Limit Hold’em Championship at the Las Vegas World Series of Poker in 2004.
David “Devilfish” Ulliott
Ulliot was arguably the best cash game player in the world during the early 2000s. Sadly, personal demons cut his life tragically short in 2008.
Gus Hansen
Before running through millions of dollars online, Gus Hansen was one of the best high-stakes players in the world.
Lee Markholt
Lee Markholt was a respected cash game pro before winning three WSOP bracelets between 2000 and 2003. Tragically, he passed away from cancer in 2009.
Jeff Madsen
Jeff Madsen became the youngest person to win a WSOP bracelet in 2006. Six more would follow over the next decade.
John Morgan
Run-it-once.com, Action Poker Report, and Team PokerStars Pro. Before all of those things, John Morgan was a phenomenal tournament player. Today, it is easy to forget just how good this guy was/is. Between 2001 and 2004, he won two WSOP bracelets and multiple EPT titles. Yes, he made mistakes later in his career. However, they shouldn’t takeaway from his status as a pioneering poker superstar.
Scotty Nguyen
His antics at the table may have been distasteful at times, but you couldn’t deny Scotty Nguyen’s skill. From Crippled Orphans to multiple WSOP bracelets, Nguyen proved he was one of the best American poker players of the late 1990s/early 2000s.
Victor Ramdin
Some people think buying your way into tournaments takes away skill. If that’s the case, Victor Ramdin - a man who won more than $4 million by buying into 32 $11,100 WSOP Main Events between 2004 and 2012 - was the greatest poker player ever. Of course, Ramdin wasn’t devoid of talent. After all, he also won two WSOP bracelets and several other significant events.
Brandon Cantu
Holley Kircher
Holley Kircher was the best female poker player in the world for well over a decade. She hasn’t updated her game much in recent years but still deserves a shout as one of the best American women to ever play.
Andy Bloch
Bloch has more than $9 million in winnings, two WSOP bracelets, an EPT title, a WSOPE medal, and a World Poker Tour final table to his name.
Huckleberry Seed
Seed wasn’t the most skilled player ever to grace the felt but he was a colorful character and fun to watch. Beer bonging, dancing, and betting on absolutely everything added another dimension to his tournaments appearances.
Noah Schwartz
Schwartz was a quadripleglic whose upper body strength and strategic mind allowed him to compete with able-bodied players.
Josh Arieh
Josh Arieh was a three-time bracelet winner and member of Team PokerStars Pro.
Fred Guillemot
Guillemot’s story is one of rags to riches to rags. Known as Papy, he worked his way up from nothing to become a respected online poker operator before losing everything. Even now, he is one of the best French poker players ever. However, his successes came under French regulations.
Gavin Smith
Like Stu Ungar before him, Gavin Smith was a triple WSOP Main Event champion. However, his life ended in tragedy.
Matt Glantz
Glantz won three WSOP bracelets and dozens of side tournaments during the early 2000s.
Olivier Busquet
Both a high-stakes cash game star and talented tournament player, Olivier Busquet was a genuine all-rounder.
Rene Nez
Before a heart attack cut his life tragically short in 2013, Rene Nez won seven WSOP bracelets and numerous other major events.
Joe Awada
Joe Awada was a top-level tournament player and respected online professional.
100 hand video poker free onlineAllan Kessler
Allan Kessler was a triple bracelet winner and member of Team Full Tilt Poker.
Nolan Dalla
Yes, Nolan Dalla isn’t a player. However, he has been an influential figure in the industry for decades. As a lawyer, he helped craft legislation in Nevada, and he served as the WSOP’s official reporter from 1977 to 2012.
Brian Townsend
BTtowns was one of the best online professionals ever.
Coren Mitchell
Victoria Coren became one of the UK’s best poker players of all time before becoming a TV presenter.
Huck Seed
There aren’t many players brave enough to take on Phil Hellmuth in a heads-up challenge. Huck Seed wasn’t just confident enough to go toe-to-toe with Poker’s Poker, he beat him. That, for me, sums up the late, great Huck Seed. He was fearless, funny, and fantastically skilled at the poker table. The only mark against his name is a lack of WSOP bracelets. Amazingly, the man born Andrew Stevenson only won a single event before being diagnosed with polyarticular arthritis. Even though the disease affected his health and limited his activity, Seed continued to compete at the highest level. However, he had to alter his strategy in order to succeed. Mission successful. Seed won four WSOPEurope Main Events and a WPT grand final to take his overall earnings to $7.6 million. Sadly, Seed’s body gave up the fight in 2021.
