PokerVegas baby! This is where poker champions congregate to challenge each other’s skills, set out to impress, and most of all, the biggest reason they are there is for the big bucks. The main event in the poker industry, all across the world is commonly known as WSOP. The World Series of Poker is held once a year in Las Vegas and reels in the best poker players, creating celebrity poker player stars in the process.
On the flip side of the coin, the year 2018 proved to be a successful year for some new players in the industry who now have become more noticed by bigger players. We can only expect to see their faces in 2019, but only time will tell.
The Main Super Star in Poker 2018 – John Cynn
Inarguably, if you win the WSOP, and no matter the year, your name is as good as a celebrity’s name on one of the stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame strip. This was the case for 2018 World Series of Poker champion John Cynn. The 33 year old from the US has previously cashed in 13 times at WSOP events and walked away as the winner of 2018.
Over a period of 10 hours, the superstar beat his opponent Tony Miles, a massive accomplishment for the rising poker player. The entire ordeal was well worth the $8.8 million pot won by Cynn.
The Main Super Star in Poker 2017- Scott Blumstein
In 2017, WSOP proved to be an impressive year for Scott Blumstein who won the main event walking way with a whopping $8.15 million in total winnings. What set this poker superstar apart from the rest is his career driven win of the WSOP bracelet, a highly valued prize every professional poker player covets.
The Main Super Star in Poker 2016 – Qui Nguyen
History was made after an 8 hour gruelling battle of poker games were won by Qui Ngyuen, where he walked away from Las Vegas as the 2016 WSOP main event champion. The poker champion won his first ever WSOP bracelet and a massive $8 million in payouts.
Daniel Negreanu
One of the biggest names in professional poker is Negreanu’s. The superstar made his claim to fame way back in 1997 at the tender age of 21 when he won at the World Poker Finals at Foxwoods. Most famous players know the prodigy as ‘Kid Poker’ due to his young age and extensive poker skills. In 2004, Daniel was named Toyota Player of the year at WSOP after winning a branded bracelet and cashing in on 5 events.
The Canadian player now resides in Las Vegas and had a hand in the recent notorious NHL teaming with leading poker brand for sponsorship, the same one famous for sponsoring players in the World Series of Poker.
Phil Hellmuth
One of the oldest shining stars in the history of professional poker is 54 year old Hellmuth who is renowned for his temperamental outbursts, most likely all a part of the show. The amazing player has set himself apart from the rest by winning 15 Word Series of Poker bracelets and is the Main Event winner of the 1989 WSOP, the winner of the 2012 WSOPE (Europe) and in 2007 he was inaugurated into the Poker Hall of Fame. The iconic player is undoubtedly a super star in his career, one of the best.
Phil Ivey
Phil Ivey, or Phil Envy, an American professional poker star that won 10 WSOP bracelets, 1 World Poker Tour and appeared at 9 WPT final tables. The iconic player was once regarded as the world’s best poker professional, beating a straight with a full house hand. He was even elected to the Poker Hall of Fame. Renowned professional players regard Phil as a legendary mentor, making him a lifelong famous poker idol.
Satellites are set up for player’s competing for a seat at the table of WSOP. Renowned online poker sites set these satellites up to award the winner with a seat at the table in Las Vegas. Whether it’s online poker, video poker or a seat at the poker table at your best friends place, the thrill remains the same and this is how poker stars are born.