Chris Moneymaker facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chris Moneymaker |
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Moneymaker at the 2006 World Series of Poker
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| Residence | Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Born | November 21, 1975 Atlanta, Georgia, U.S |
| World Series of Poker | |
| Bracelet(s) | 1 |
| Money finish(es) | 9 |
| Highest ITM Main Event finish |
Winner, 2003 |
| World Poker Tour | |
| Title(s) | None |
| Final table(s) | 1 |
| Money finish(es) | 2 |
| European Poker Tour | |
| Title(s) | None |
| Final table(s) | None |
| Money finish(es) | 3 |
Christopher Bryan Moneymaker (born November 21, 1975) is a famous American poker player. He won the biggest poker tournament in the world, the 2003 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event. What made his win so special was that he was the first person to become a world champion after getting into the tournament through an online poker game. This amazing story inspired many people to play poker, and it's often called the "Moneymaker effect".
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Early Life and Education
Chris Moneymaker was born in Atlanta, Georgia. He went to Farragut High School in Knoxville, Tennessee. Later, he earned a master's degree in accounting from the University of Tennessee. After finishing college, Moneymaker worked as an accountant. He also had a part-time job at a restaurant in Spring Hill, Tennessee.
Moneymaker has shared that his family name, "Moneymaker," comes from his ancestors. They used to make silver and gold coins. Their original German last name was "Nurmacher," which was changed over time.
Poker Career Highlights
Winning the World Series of Poker
In 2003, Chris Moneymaker was working as an accountant. He won a spot in the Main Event of the 2003 World Series of Poker (WSOP). He got this spot by playing an $86 online tournament on PokerStars. Before this, not many people knew him in the poker world.
During the tournament, his skills impressed a professional sports expert named Lou Diamond. Diamond even called Moneymaker his "dark horse" to win. Moneymaker went on to win the top prize of $2.5 million. This instantly made him a poker superstar. The 2003 WSOP Main Event was his very first live poker tournament.
One of the most memorable moments was when he played against Sam Farha. Moneymaker made a big bluff with a weak hand. Farha folded a better hand, which changed how the game was going. Moneymaker eventually won the tournament. His hand, , beat Farha's . The final cards on the table were . This gave Moneymaker a full house.
After winning, he left his accounting job. He became a spokesperson for the WSOP owner, Harrah's Entertainment, and for PokerStars. He also started his own company, Moneymaker Gaming. He began traveling to play in more big poker tournaments.
His book, Moneymaker: How an Amateur Poker Player Turned $40 into $2.5 Million at the World Series of Poker, came out in 2005. It tells the story of his amazing win.
Other Notable Poker Tournaments
Chris Moneymaker has had other successes in poker.
- In 2004, he finished second at the Bay 101 Shooting Star event. He won $200,000.
- In 2008, he placed sixth in a big online tournament, earning over $139,000.
- He won the Deep Stack Pot Limit Omaha event in July 2009, taking home $15,889.
- In 2011, he finished 11th at the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure Main Event, winning $130,000.
- Also in 2011, he came in second at the National Heads-Up Poker Championship against Erik Seidel. He earned $300,000 from this event.
By 2022, Chris Moneymaker's total winnings from live tournaments were over $3,950,000. More than $2,550,000 of this came from the World Series of Poker.
In 2019, Chris Moneymaker was honored by being added to the Poker Hall of Fame. This is a special recognition for poker players who have made a big impact on the game.
Personal Life
Chris Moneymaker has been married twice. He has a daughter from his first marriage. He remarried in 2005. As of 2021, he and his family live near Memphis, Tennessee.
See also
In Spanish: Chris Moneymaker para niños
