In 2003, after the broadcast of the WSOP Main Event, the poker world underwent a revolutionary change: from that moment on, the game became a global mania, and not a commonplace hobby, which was previously considered. The reason for such a rapid growth in the popularity of poker around the world was a number of innovations that changed the usual opinion about the game, which was successfully combined in the main tournament of 2003. However, as a rule, the popularity of the game depends not only on the list of certain innovations, but also on the actions of the players at the poker table.
Chris Moneymaker - 2003 WSOP ME Champion
Chris Moneymaker, who worked as a public accountant before winning the 2003 Main Event, won a prize of $2,500,000 with just $40 on the buy-in. An impressive result, isn't it? Then, less than a year later, Chris won $200,000.
However, Moneymaker's subsequent achievements were not so significant. But, after all, it was thanks to him that the famous Moneymaker Effect appeared in the poker world!
Greg Raymer- champion WSOP ME 2004
In 2004, in the midst of the poker boom, the title of winner went to Greg Reimer. Compared to 2003, the prize has increased to $5,000,000, and the field size has grown by as much as 3.5 times. Like Minimiker, Reimer was not a professional poker player. He was a practicing lawyer, and poker was just fun for him.
Unlike his predecessor, who has more critics than fans, Greg Raymer has earned a reputation as one of the best players in tournament poker.
At the moment, Reimer is one of the most active representatives of the Alliance of Poker Players.
Joe Hashem- champion WSOP ME 2005
Joe Hashem, the 2005 Main Event winner, became a poker icon and was instrumental in the Australian poker boom.
Joe Hashem's career winnings are over $10 million.
Jamie Gold- champion WSOP ME 2006
In 2007, the winner's crown went to Hollywood agent Jamie Gold, who, using his skills to manipulate and deceive opponents, won the tournament.
Despite the fact that his opponents in the game were Paul Wasica, Michael Binger, Allen Cunningham, who are the strongest players, Gold still managed to win. However, Jamie Gold never joined the ranks of professional poker players.
Jerry Young- champion WSOP ME 2007
Jerry Young, the 2007 Main Event winner, is one of the most mysterious players around.
According to him, his knowledge of psychology, which he used to study the personality of opponents, helped him to conduct such a virtuoso game.
Jerry Young won $8,250,000.
Peter Eastgate - champion WSOP ME 2008
In 2008, Peter Eastgate, who was 22 at the time, blew up the hall, earning the title of Youngest Main Event Champion.
His prize was $9,152,416. But the public was even more shocked by the announcement of such a talented player on the eve of the 2010 WSOP: Peter Eastgate announced that he was retiring from poker.
And he kept his word.
Joe Cada- champion WSOP ME 2009
Joe Cada is the 2009 winner who managed to snatch the victory from the hands of an experienced player like Phil Ivey.
Cada won $8,547,042 and did not ignore his role as the poker ambassador to the world.
Since then, he has taken part in every WSOP tournament.
As we can see, the fate of the players looks rather tempting: he came and won a big sum! But things don't always go so smoothly. After all, every win, be it large or purely symbolic, is given to the player through hard work!
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