The Complete A–Z Directory of Professional Poker Players

Every poker fan has a favourite. Some love the old-school legends who built the game, others follow the young high-roller crushers who play for millions every month. This professional poker players list brings them together in one place, sorted A to Z by first name, so you can quickly find the stars worth following.

We’ve kept it practical: who they are, what they’re known for, and why they matter. Think of it as your go-to poker players list for 2026.

How We Built This Poker Players List

This isn’t just a ranking by money. We looked at tournament earnings, major titles, influence on the game and current form. Some names are here for their bankroll, others for the way they changed poker. That mix is what makes a best poker players list worth reading.

 A–E

Antonio Esfandiari (USA) – “The Magician” became a household name after winning the 2012 Big One for One Drop for over $18 million, still one of the largest single prizes in poker history.

Bryn Kenney (USA) – The king of the tournament money list. Kenney sits at the top of the all-time money list with more than $81 million in recorded tournament earnings.

Chris Moneymaker (USA) – The accountant who qualified online and won the 2003 WSOP Main Event. His win sparked the poker boom and inspired millions to take up the game.

Daniel Negreanu (Canada) – Poker’s most recognisable ambassador. He leads the WSOP all-time money list and holds seven bracelets. Known for reading opponents almost perfectly and talking through every hand.

Erik Seidel (USA) – Quiet, consistent and still dangerous decades into his career. He has 32 career wins, including nine WSOP bracelets and titles on both the WPT and EPT.

 F–J

Fedor Holz (Germany) – One of the fastest risers poker has ever seen. His record-breaking 2016 run made him a high-roller icon before he even turned 25.

Gus Hansen (Denmark) – The “Great Dane” brought fearless aggression to televised poker in the 2000s and helped shape how the modern game is played.

Hossein Ensan (Germany) – Won the 2019 WSOP Main Event and its $10 million top prize, proving that patience and experience still win the biggest event of all.

Isaac Haxton (USA) – An online legend turned high-roller regular, respected for his deep theoretical understanding of the game.

Jason Koon (USA) – A former college athlete who became one of the best players on the planet. Koon was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2026, holds the record for most Triton titles, and has close to $77.6 million in career earnings.

Justin Bonomo (USA) – A former world No. 1 on the money list who has traded places at the top with Bryn Kenney over the years.

K–O

Kristen Foxen (Canada) – One of the most successful women in poker today, with multiple WSOP bracelets and a reputation as a fierce high-stakes competitor.

Liv Boeree (UK) – An EPT and WSOP champion who became one of poker’s best-known voices on strategy, science and game theory.

Lucas Jumalon (USA) – The newest world champion. The 22-year-old from Spokane, Washington won the 2026 WSOP Main Event on 5 August, collecting $10 million after outlasting 9,208 players.

Michael Mizrachi (USA) – “The Grinder” is a mixed-game master and a multiple bracelet winner. As the defending Main Event champion, he handed over the title to Lucas Jumalon in 2026.

Nick Petrangelo (USA) – A steady force on the high-roller circuit, known for his calm, technical style.

Ole Schemion (Germany) – Part of Germany’s golden generation of high rollers, with big wins on both the live and online circuits.

P–T

Phil Hellmuth (USA) – The “Poker Brat” holds the record for most WSOP bracelets, with 17. Love him or hate him, nobody has won more at the World Series.

Phil Ivey (USA) – Widely seen as the greatest all-round player ever, with 11 WSOP bracelets. He ranks seventh on the all-time US money list with over $38.2 million.

Rainer Kempe (Germany) – Another German high-roller star with huge wins on the Triton and Super High Roller circuits.

Stephen Chidwick (UK) – Britain’s top tournament earner and a constant presence at final tables of the biggest events in the world.

Tom Dwan (USA) – “durrrr” became famous for fearless bluffs in televised high-stakes cash games and remains one of poker’s most entertaining players.

U–Z

Vanessa Selbst (USA) – A three-time WSOP bracelet winner and long the highest-earning woman in poker before retiring from full-time play in 2018.

Wai Kiat Lee (Malaysia) – One of Asia’s biggest success stories. He is second on Malaysia’s all-time money list and has pushed his lifetime earnings close to $25 million.

Xuan Liu (Canada) – A respected tournament pro with deep runs at major live events, known for her thoughtful, disciplined style.

Yuri Dzivielevski (Brazil) – Brazil’s mixed-game specialist and a multiple WSOP bracelet winner, proving his skill goes well beyond Hold’em.

Who Is the Best Poker Player Right Now?

There’s no single answer. If you go by tournament earnings, Bryn Kenney leads. If you value bracelets, Phil Hellmuth stands alone. For overall skill and respect among peers, many still point to Phil Ivey. And for current form, players like Jason Koon and the new world champion Lucas Jumalon are hard to ignore.

That’s what makes poker so exciting. The best poker players list is always changing, and next year’s top name could be someone who’s just getting started today.

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