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    Famous Poker Players From Texas

    Texas Hold'em got its name for a reason. This list covers the famous poker players who were born, raised or are based in Texas, from road gamblers Doyle Brunson and Amarillo Slim to today's tournament pros.

    11 players29 WSOP bracelets combinedUpdated November 2026

    Famous Poker Players From Texas: the ranking

    Ranking: Players whose biography says they were born, raised or are based in Texas, ranked by live tournament earnings.

    1. Chris Brewer

      United States

      From Olympic Track Trials to $28 Million in Poker Earnings

      Also in:United States playersAthletesYoung players
      Earnings
      $28.5M
      Bracelets
      2
      Age
      33

    2. Jonathan Tamayo

      United States

      "The Wizard" Who Defeated 10,112 Players to Win the 2024 WSOP Main Event

      Also in:United States players2000sTournaments
      Earnings
      $12M
      Bracelets
      1
      Age
      —

    3. David Williams

      United States

      "RugDoctor" - The 2004 WSOP Main Event Runner-Up Who Later Competed on MasterChef

      Also in:United States playersLas VegasOn TV
      Earnings
      $9.5M
      Bracelets
      1
      Age
      45

    4. Johnny Chan

      United States

      "The Orient Express," Back-to-Back WSOP Main Event Champion (1987-1988) and Poker Hall of Famer

      Also in:United States players1980s1990s
      Earnings
      $8.7M
      Bracelets
      10
      Age
      69

    5. Doyle Brunson

      United StatesDeceased

      "Texas Dolly" - The Godfather of Poker and Two-Time WSOP Main Event Champion

      Also in:United States playersWho diedHall of Fame
      Earnings
      $6.1M
      Bracelets
      10
      Age
      89

    1. Alex Keating

      United States

      WSOP Bracelet Winner & High Roller Contender

      Also in:United States playersOn TVBusinessmen
      Earnings
      $5.3M
      Bracelets
      1
      Age
      38

    2. Schuyler Thornton

      United States

      Corpus Christi Online Grinder Who Ran Hot to a Record-Setting WPT World Championship Title

      Also in:United States playersOnlineCash games
      Earnings
      $4.3M
      Bracelets
      0
      Age
      36

    3. Harvey Castro

      United States

      The SMU Soccer Scholarship Athlete Who Found a Faith-Driven Edge at the Poker Table

      Also in:United States playersUnder 30Athletes
      Earnings
      $1.5M
      Bracelets
      0
      Age
      23

    4. Ben Ross

      United States

      Texas Grinder With Nine Titles and a Growing WSOP Circuit and WPT Resume

      Also in:United States playersModern era
      Earnings
      $349K
      Bracelets
      0
      Age
      —

    5. Adam Greenberg

      United States

      Texas Tournament Grinder With Deep Runs Across HPT and WSOP Circuit Events

      Also in:United States playersModern era
      Earnings
      $215K
      Bracelets
      0
      Age
      —

    6. Amarillo Slim

      United StatesDeceased

      Thomas "Amarillo Slim" Preston — 1972 WSOP Main Event Champion and Poker's Great Showman

      Also in:United States playersWho diedHall of Fame
      Earnings
      —
      Bracelets
      4
      Age
      83

    About this list

    Chris Brewer leads this list with $28.5M in live earnings, 2 WSOP bracelets. Jonathan Tamayo and David Williams complete the top three. Together, the 11 players on this list have won 29 WSOP bracelets and $76.4M in live tournament earnings.

    In the 1950s and 1960s, a group of Texas road gamblers travelled from town to town playing high-stakes Hold'em in back rooms. When they arrived in Las Vegas, they brought the game with them and won the first World Series of Poker titles. Texas still produces strong players today, many of them from Houston, Dallas and Austin.

    How this list is built

    Players whose biography says they were born, raised or are based in Texas, ranked by live tournament earnings. Each player can appear on several lists at once; the chips under each name link to the other lists they belong to. Data is updated November 2026.

    Related lists

    United States Famous Poker Players 248Famous Canadian Poker Players 15Famous British Poker Players 22Famous French Poker Players 24Famous German Poker Players 9Famous Australian Poker Players 6Famous Swedish Poker Players 4Famous Irish Poker Players 2Famous Brazilian Poker Players 2Famous Finnish Poker Players 12Famous Spanish Poker Players 6Famous Norwegian Poker Players 5Famous Italian Poker Players 5Famous Poker Players From Las Vegas 13Highest Earning Poker Players of All Time 50Poker Players With Most Bracelets 30Best Poker Players of All Time 30

    FAQ about famous poker players from Texas

    Who is number one on our list of famous poker players from Texas?

    Chris Brewer ranks first by live earnings, with $28.5M in live earnings, 2 WSOP bracelets. From Olympic Track Trials to $28 Million in Poker Earnings.

    How many players are on this list?

    The list includes 11 players from our database of 412 profiles. It updates automatically when a player who matches the criteria is added.

    Who has won the most WSOP bracelets on this list?

    Johnny Chan, with 10 WSOP bracelets.

    Who is the youngest player on this list?

    Harvey Castro, aged 23.