Famous poker players who started from zero
Our slogan is “Every pro was a newbie once”, and the history of the World Series of Poker Main Event proves it. Here are amateurs who went from small stakes to the biggest title in poker.
Chris Moneymaker — 2003
Section titled “Chris Moneymaker — 2003”An accountant from Tennessee, Moneymaker qualified for the $10,000 Main Event through an $86 online satellite on PokerStars. He beat a field of 839 players and won $2,500,000. His win started the “poker boom”: millions of people thought “if he can do it, so can I”.
Greg Raymer — 2004
Section titled “Greg Raymer — 2004”A patent attorney who also qualified online through PokerStars. The field grew to 2,576 players, and Raymer took $5,000,000. Proof that 2003 wasn’t a one-off.
Jerry Yang — 2007
Section titled “Jerry Yang — 2007”An amateur who won his seat in a $225 satellite. He beat 6,358 players and won $8,250,000, playing an aggressive, fearless style at the final table.
Peter Eastgate — 2008
Section titled “Peter Eastgate — 2008”A Danish online player who became the youngest Main Event champion at the time, at 22, winning $9,152,416 from a field of 6,844.
Joe Cada — 2009
Section titled “Joe Cada — 2009”A year later, 21-year-old Joe Cada from Michigan broke that record, winning $8,547,042 from 6,494 players.
What beginners can learn
Section titled “What beginners can learn”- Satellites turn small buy-ins into big tournaments. See satellite strategy.
- Online practice builds experience fast; all of these players played a lot online.
- Winners still needed luck at the right moment — and the discipline to survive the many tournaments they didn’t win. Read what is variance.
- Nobody starts as a pro. Follow a study plan and keep a poker journal.
More history: what is the WSOP? and poker records.
Who is Chris Moneymaker?
Section titled “Who is Chris Moneymaker?”An accountant who won the 2003 WSOP Main Event and $2.5 million after qualifying through an $86 online satellite.
Did any other amateur win the WSOP Main Event?
Section titled “Did any other amateur win the WSOP Main Event?”Yes. Greg Raymer (2004) qualified online, and Jerry Yang (2007) won his seat in a $225 satellite.
Who is the youngest WSOP Main Event champion?
Section titled “Who is the youngest WSOP Main Event champion?”Joe Cada won in 2009 at 21, breaking Peter Eastgate’s record from 2008.
Can a beginner win a big tournament?
Section titled “Can a beginner win a big tournament?”It’s possible, especially through satellites, but it takes skill, discipline and luck at the right time.