It just doesn’t get anymore rags-to-riches in the poker world than Chris Moneymaker. A humble accountant from Nashville, Tennessee, this young husband and father of one, won a seat at the 2003 World Series of Poker Championship Tournament. He got there by winning a $40 online satellite tournament. Because he was unable to pay for his trip to the tournament, his father and a close friend sponsored him with the promise of sharing a portion of any winnings that Chris won. It was a good investment to say the least. Chris Moneymaker won the WSOP Championship, beating out such final table veterans as Phil Ivey and Sam Farha and taking home $2,500,000 in winnings.
Though many people think Chris won due to luck instead of talent, he recently placed second on the World Poker Tour’s Shooting Stars episode.
Christopher Bryan Moneymaker was born November 21, 1975, in Atlanta, Georgia. He attended the University of Tennessee where he received an accounting degree. He began working as an account in Tennessee, taking on a second job at a restaurant to support his expecting wife.
Chris’ professional career can be highly debated. Poker critics believe he does not have much of a skill set and his winnings were pure beginner’s luck. He began an overnight pro in 2003 when he won the World Series of Poker No Limit Hold’em Championship. He won his seat in the WSOP by winning a $40 online satellite tournament at PokerStars. His $40 investment gave him a $2.5 million dollar return at the tables. He battled his way to the final table where his flopped two pair gave him a full house and took out Sammy Farha’s flopped pair of jacks.
Since then, Moneymaker has played in the World Poker Tour’s Shooting Stars episode where he placed second earning $200,000. He has participated in other world tournaments including World Poker Finals at Foxwoods, the WPT Invitationals, PokerStars Caribbean Poker Adventure, Bay 101 Shooting Stars tournament, and European Poker Tour in Monte Carlo.
In recent news, Chris started his own company, Moneymaker Gaming and published his autobiography titled Moneymaker: How an Amateur Poker Player Turned $40 into $2.5 Million at the World Series of Poker in 2005. He is also a spokesman for Harrah’s Entertainment and PokerStars.
Chris Moneymaker Fun Facts and Finishes
· Before winning the 2003 WSOP Championship, Chris worked two jobs to make ends meet—one as an accountant and the other at a restaurant.
· Chris donated a portion of his WSOP winnings to cancer research.
