PokerNews Ranks the World Series of Poker Main Event Champs Since 2003

It takes a lot to be a champion. There have been 13 World Series of Poker Main Event champions since 2003, a year which we’ve liberally deemed to mark the start of the modern-day WSOP era. For your reading pleasure, the PokerNews editorial staff decided to take a swing at ranking the WSOP Main Event winners based solely on our own criteria of what it means to be the WSOP Main Event Champ.

Some believe that being a great poker ambassador holds a lot of clout, and is possibly the most important factor, given that these folks become the inevitable face of poker for many who do not follow the game on a regular basis. But, depending on the person, a true champion can be about so much more.

For this list, our editorial staff ranked players based on poker tournament results up to and after their WSOP win, representation of poker as an ‘unofficial ambassador’ of the game, impact on the game of poker, social media presence, poise in the mainstream media spotlight after the win, and activity working within the poker industry. There isn’t a perfect formula for determining these rankings, but we felt it was important for each member of the team to base their rankings on what the role of WSOP Main Event champ meant to them.

Here are the results: 1. Chris Moneymaker

Jason Glatzer: Chris Moneymaker not only has one of the best last names in poker, but also was responsible for the poker boom with a great story including qualifying in via a PokerStars satellite. Who knows where poker would be today without Moneymaker.

Frank Op de Woerd: The way Chris Moneymaker has taken upon himself the role of ambassador is unseen in the industry. He’s still incredibly welcoming to new players, still the friendliest guy in the room every time he sits down at the poker table and still has the best name for a poker player.

Pamela Maldonado: Chris Moneymaker – without knowing his financial situation – it is great to see him not really care about the hierarchy of events. He’ll play the smallest of buy-ins and the large events, as well. He takes a lot of heat for being “washed up” but you never see him go off online. He sticks to playing the game.

Matthew Parvis: Chris Moneymaker epitomizes what is great about poker. He beat a field that was smaller but rich with talent. He’s continuously maintained his role as an ambassador, and while he hasn’t had the same level of results as some of the others, he also doesn’t play a full slate of events.

Matthew Pitt: Moneymaker didn’t shy from the spotlight, and despite modest success on the felt, remains a poker celeb. He continues to engage fans in both cash and tournament play.

2. Martin Jacobson

Jason Glatzer: Martin Jacobson represents all that is good about European poker, and should be a surefire Hall of Famer. He was one of Europe’s most successful live tournament players even before this win.

Mo Nuwwarah: Martin Jacobson was already a star to those in the know and he’s an approachable guy who continues to be a presence in some big-stakes tournaments, while wearing a patch for charity.

Matthew Pitt: Martin Jacobson, in my opinion, is our greatest champion. Everything about him shows he’s the consummate professional: How he carries himself, his results and the fact nobody has a bad word to say about him.

3. Greg Merson

Pamela Maldonado: Greg Merson is personable, charismatic, a true poker professional. Although he may not be making headlines, he is one of the few players who is the same person both on and off the felt.

Frank Op de Woerd: Cada won another bracelet after having won the Main Event, a feat not a whole lot …

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