Who Is the Best Poker Player in the World Among Modern Poker Pros

Answering the question of who is the best poker player of all time has never been easy. With a wide array of formats, from cash games and tournaments to online play, live events, mixed games, and high rollers, things get complicated. And most professionals specialise in just one or two of those categories. However, several names keep coming up in the discussions about the best poker player ever. Here's a look at the modern poker elite, including the leading GOAT contender and a few other top players.

How We Ranked the Best Poker Players

You need clear metrics to evaluate what you're comparing and rank reliably. For example, experts reviewing new online casinos NZ offering free spins and bonuses, look at features like licensing, security systems, payment experience, game range, mobile optimisation, and customer care. In the same way, a consistent set of criteria is required to compare and rank the world’s top poker players today. That includes the following:

- To start, the tournament results show how well a player does in big events. In addition to wins, this includes final tables and deep runs in elite tournaments like the WSOP.

- However, one or two big results aren’t enough to consider someone the best. In other words, real pros keep showing up at the top again and again, rather than just having one good year.

- As the saying goes, you’re only as good as your competition. Because of that, winning against low-level opponents isn’t as impressive as outplaying the greatest poker players of all time.

- Since different poker formats require different skills, the more formats a player can succeed in, the more complete they become. Some dominate one format, but those who compete successfully in tournaments and cash games alike (or other variants) stand out the most.

- During high-pressure moments like final tables and big all-ins, you start to see who truly has the skill and who lacks it.

- Finally, the current form reveals how a player has been doing recently. However, some may only be experiencing short-term success. That is to say, although it's useful to consider the latest rankings, it must be taken into account together with the above factors.

Top 10 Best Modern Poker Players

Poker doesn’t have an official ranking system, so the players below are selected based on tournament success, earnings, consistency, and major titles. For example, Tony Lin ranks tenth despite leading the GPI rankings because others have longer histories of top-level results.

Stephen Chidwick is widely respected for his consistency in high-stakes tournaments. Since turning professional in 2008, he has won two WSOP bracelets and earned more than $84 million in live events, including a $5.3 million win at Triton Million London. Jason Koon is another dominant figure, becoming the most successful Triton Poker player ever with 12 titles and over $73 million in career winnings.

Isaac Haxton finally captured his first WSOP bracelet in 2023 during a year in which he earned more than $16 million. Adrian Mateos also stands out after becoming the fastest player to surpass $50 million in live tournament earnings while winning five WSOP bracelets. Justin Bonomo remains one of poker’s biggest winners thanks to his legendary 2018 season, often called the “Bonomo Year.”

Bryn Kenney currently leads poker’s All-Time Money List with more than $84 million in earnings despite never winning a WSOP bracelet. Dan Smith has also built an impressive career with over $60 million in live cashes and years of consistent results.

Among poker’s most iconic names, Daniel Negreanu remains the only player to win the WSOP Player of the Year award twice, alongside six WSOP bracelets. Phil Ivey, often considered one of poker’s greatest talents, has won 11 WSOP bracelets and more than $54 million in tournament earnings.

Tony Lin may not yet match the career winnings of poker’s biggest legends, but his recent back-to-back victories helped him reach the number one spot in the GPI rankings, proving he is one of the fastest-rising players in modern poker.

Scroll down to learn more about the top five picks for the greatest poker player of all time.

Stephen Chidwick

Let’s start with one of the most famous poker players right now, Stephen Chidwick, a well-known name among high-stakes tournament players. If you’ve followed his career, you know he has gone deep in elite high-roller series time and time again. Just in May, he finished first in a No-Limit Texas Hold’em event. He’s been consistent for well over 10 years, which is why this poker pro is currently ranked second on the all-time live tournament money list. His earnings stand at 78,718,448.

Jason Koon

Second on the list is Koon, a regular at the Triton Poker Super High Roller Series. Not only that, but he has won over 10 Triton titles, which is a current record. In addition, he has two WSOP bracelets under his belt, won in 2021 and 2025. Interestingly, he believes he may not have become one of the best poker players of all time had he not been a field athlete. It’s that experience, he says, that taught him mental strength and stamina that’s also required in poker.

Isaac Haxton

Here’s a poker pro who knows his way around both tournaments and cash games. Nicknamed ‘The Harry Potter of Poker’ for his round glasses, Haxton has earned over $60M in live tournament earnings. Additionally, millions more came from playing online cash games. And he’s not only famous for his poker skills, but also for his poker ethics. For instance, he was one of the first to speak out against RTA and AI bots in cash games. He also opposes high-rake platforms and only works with honest poker brands.

Adrian Matoes

Spaniard Adrian Mateos is one of the world’s top professional poker players, earning him the nickname ‘El Conquistador’. After becoming interested in poker at 16, he entered his first poker tournament at just 18 years old. Incredibly, he won his first WSOP title at just 19 years of age. By 2017, he became the youngest player ever to win three bracelets at age 22. Most notably, what surprised the poker community the most was how quickly he went from his first live cash to hitting the $50 million milestone.

Justin Bonomo

Justin Bonomo is one of poker’s most recognizable modern stars and a longtime rival of Bryn Kenney in the race for the top spot on poker’s all-time money list. Known for his unique personality and signature pink hair, Bonomo is also the only player to win two Super High Roller Bowl titles in the same year. His greatest season came in 2018, when he earned an incredible $25 million, including a $10 million victory at the One Drop tournament.