Poker is one of the most popular games across the planet, and it’s estimated that around 100 million people play globally. As a result, the tournaments around the world attract a lot of interest; approximately 120,000 people entered last year’s World Series of Poker.
Top sports stars, such as Virat Kohli in the IPL, are revered the world over for their achievements, but poker players perhaps not so much. Why is that? After all, they’re involved in high-stakes games, work under intense pressure and often have a public profile that penetrates Hollywood and pop culture. Indeed, the prize money for the winner of the main table at the World Series was $8 million, but who was the recipient of that prize? Do you know? Who are the other poker players you should know about?
If you’re interested to know who the movers and shakers are in the ever-popular world of Poker, then we’ve got you covered.
Korey Aldemir
As mentioned above, the 32-year-old German Korey Aldemir was the winner of the 2021 World Series Main Event, who took home the pot after defeating George Holmes at the final table in the No-Limit Hold’em World Championship. He won courtesy of a pair of 10s and 7s to seal his first WSOP title and the huge prize that attracted so many players to the Vegas tables. Although the prize he took home is the biggest single pot he’s earned to date, Aldemir already had 33 money finishes and reached the final table at the World Series four times. His career earnings have raced beyond $20 million, and it’s not going to stop there.
Kristen Bicknell
Bicknell is one of the greatest ever female poker players who started her career playing low-stakes games back in her homeland of Canada. She built a reputation as a formidable opponent online and latterly in tournament play. She’s one half of arguably the most popular power couple in the game as she recently married fellow pro, Alex Foxen. Although he is one of the most exciting players on the felt, Bicknell is far from being in her husband’s shadow and opponents cannot underestimate her. She’s won three World Series of Poker bracelets, had five money finishes on the World Poker Tour and has amassed over $11 million in online and live play so far.
Alex Foxen
Although we’ve already mentioned him, we cannot ignore the achievements of Alex Foxen, who has become one of the most successful players in professional poker in the last decade. However, it could have been so different had he managed to make the breakthrough in American Football which was his first passion. But once it was looking unlikely the NFL was in his future, he turned to poker, and he hasn’t looked back. Foxen won his first World Series of Poker event in 2011, just months after his 21st birthday, and he’s gone on to be the only player to have twice been named the Global Poker Index Player of the Year. Foxen has cashed in at 39 separate World Series of Poker events, with his earnings currently heading towards $20 million.
Daniel Negreanu
Negreanu is one of the greatest players ever to have played the game, and a quick rundown of his achievements will tell you why. He’s won six World Series of Poker bracelets and two World Poker Tour titles and had a total of over 170 money finishes in top-level tournament play. Also, for good measure, he’s earned over $42 million, and he’s an inductee into the Poker Hall of Fame, one of the few players to do so while still in his career. Negreanu’s influence and popularity are such that he’s also been seen in movie theatres after making a cameo in X-Men Origins: Wolverine and has also featured in Katy Perry’s music videos.
Also Read About: Best Football Games and European Football Games for Mobile
