Who is the best poker player in the world and why?

Question

Who is the best poker player in the world and why?

Answer 1

ME. Because you need to have confidence in yourself.

By the numbers, it's Phil Hellmuth. He has 11 World Series Of Poker bracelets. More than anyone else. I myself don't think he's that great, at least what I've seen on TV. Alot of Pros say he has more bracelets than anyone because he plays more tournaments than anyone. I agree.

If Johnny Chan played as many as Phil, I think he'd be the best by the numbers and he probably is from the skill.

But right now it's me.

Answer 2

Best poker player of all times is Doyle Brunson, ten time WSOP winner and poker legend, he even owns his own poker room at: http://www.doylesroom.com

Answer 3

Well, as for who is the best today, hard to say, I disagree with regards to Phil Hellmuth, he is a one pony show.  He has only won braclets in texas hold'em, and is not a good cash player (at least he has no respect as one and doesn't play in the "big game". )

If this question were asked last year, the answer would have been Chip Reese, hands down, he was considered the best by all the pros and was one of the regulars in the big game.  He was proficient at all forms of poker, this is demonstrated by him winning the first 50k buy-in HORSE tournament, and making the final table in the second one (last year).  He recently died and the poker world lost one of the greatest players ever to live.  When most pros are asked to list the best, his name was always at the top of the list.

Another of the best poker players, who is no longer with us, puts Phil Hellmuth's tournament stats to shame, he wasn't much of a tournament player, only playing in 4 major tournaments, all of them the WSOP main event, the amazing thing about that is, he placed 1st in three of them.  His name is Stu Ungar, he was arguably the first "young gun" of poker, he was the pioneer of the loose/aggressive style, arguably the first ever to use it, the people just didn't know how to play against him, he also could read his opponent like a book.  Drugs and alcohol got him in the end.

As for today, I would argue either Phil Ivey or Todd Brunson.  This might come as a shock to alot of yall, but texas hold'em ain't the only form of poker.  Both Phil and Todd do well on the tournament circuit, in hold'em and other forms of poker (most of Phil's bracletts are not in hold'em) and they are regulars in not only the big game, but almost all the biggest cash games in the world (along with Jennifer Harmon) and have won more money  than Phil Hellmuth has ever dreamed of winning. Once again, when pros are asked about best all around players, their names are now at the top of the list.

Determining the best player by the number of braclets is probably not the best way, remember, until 2002 most of the better players didn't play in the WSOP (some did, but typically only in the main event), they played in the huge ring games that developed as a result of the tournaments.  The reason that alot of the ring games ceased was that Binions just didn't have the space for them in 2002 and as the WSOP grew these folks started playing in the WSOP events (also because of the movie Rounders).

Answer 4

I'm going to have to say Daniel Negreanu. He's an awesome player who can read people amazingly well.

Answer 5

Phil Hellmuth Jr

If we knew why, he wouldn't win so much!!

:)

Answer 6

some of the best poker players don't play pro they just stick to cash games all over. if you go by numbers it's Phil but i bet if you asked him he would name off some one who isn't on the poker tour. For all i know it might be you.

Answer 7

who cares