Famous Poker Players by Era
From the Texas road gamblers of the 1970s to the solver-trained high rollers of today, poker has changed with every decade. These lists group famous players by the era in which they made their name.
About these lists
Each decade of poker had its own stars. The 1980s belonged to Johnny Chan and Stu Ungar, the 1990s to Phil Hellmuth and Scotty Nguyen, and the 2000s poker boom created household names on television and online. The modern era rewards study, data and stamina.
Players are placed in an era by the years of the results and milestones in their career record. Many long careers span several eras, so a player such as Erik Seidel appears in more than one list.
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FAQ
When was the poker boom?
The poker boom began in 2003, when amateur Chris Moneymaker won the WSOP Main Event after qualifying online, and lasted until the US online poker shutdown in 2011.
Who is the best poker player of all time?
There is no single answer, but our all-time score ranks Phil Hellmuth first, followed by Johnny Chan and Doyle Brunson.
How do you decide which era a player belongs to?
We use the years of the results and milestones in each player's career record. Long careers can span several eras.