Elite online poker players often share several key traits that set them apart:
- They are unafraid to take on high stakes.
- They exhibit remarkable endurance, managing to focus on screens for extended periods.
- They have a unique capability to juggle multiple tables simultaneously.
One more thing?
These players showcase extraordinary talent and mastery in poker. Below is a glimpse into some of the leading online poker competitors worldwide.
It is important to note that numerous online poker players work diligently without ever gaining recognition beyond their immediate circles. The individuals listed here have gained some fame due to their involvement in live tournaments and media appearances.
It's worth mentioning that the rankings are inherently subjective and can vary based on personal perspectives.
Best 15 online poker players are:
1 – Viktor Blom
"Isildur1\" accumulated millions through online play before anyone knew his real name. This talented Swedish poker player participated in high-stakes games starting in the late 2000s, often competing against other notable players listed here.
He has been part of some of the largest pots recorded in online poker history. Among those frequently challenging Blom for high six-figure sums were Tom Dwan, Phil Ivey, Patrik Antonius, and Brian Hastings, along with many others.
By 2009, Blom had already participated in ten of the biggest online poker pots recorded to date, engaging in high-stakes battles against some of the game’s elite.
At just 29, Blom discovered poker as a teenager and, by age 15, had amassed a bankroll exceeding $275,000. After losing it all, he was determined to rebuild his fortunes. During one remarkable stint in his online career, he netted $1.7 million in just two weeks. His impressive track record includes some substantial winnings. tournaments in online poker.
After transitioning into live poker, Blom achieved notable success, even if he doesn’t participate in as many tournaments as some of his peers. This includes a substantial win at the PCA High Roller in 2012, netting him $1.3 million, bringing his live poker earnings close to $3 million.
Blom remains a legend in online poker.
2 – Tom Dwan
Following years of fierce competition online at some of the highest imaginable stakes, the player known as \"durrrr\" also flourished in live cash games and tournaments. Dwan, who hails from Edison, New Jersey, briefly studied at Boston University before dropping out to focus on professional poker.
Online, Dwan became a player to be feared. His endeavors at the table led to a feature in the acclaimed book \"Ship It Holla Ballas!\" authored by Jonathan Grotenstein and Storms Reback.
During the poker boom, Dwan regularly engaged in lengthy sessions, multi-tabling various high-stakes games. His rivals included prolific players like Phil Ivey, Guy Laliberte, Patrik Antonius, and Viktor Blom, among others.
Currently 33, Dwan has accumulated $3.4 million from live tournament play but has earned even more from cash games, both in-person and online. He remains an active participant in the poker scene, frequently competing in Southeast Asia, such as Macau.
Dwan's talent and substantial earnings have cemented his status as a legend in the world of online poker.
3 – Dan “Jungleman12” Cates
After climbing from the micro stakes, this 30-year-old poker player from Maryland achieved remarkable success both online and in live settings. By 2014, his online winnings reportedly reached $11 million, with an impressive $5 million portion earned in 2010, facing off against notable players like Viktor Blom and Tom Dwan.
He ventured into poker during his teenage years and later pursued a degree in economics at the University of Maryland. However, like many of his counterparts, he eventually left academia to chase a professional poker career.
This decision proved beneficial, as the skills he honed online translated seamlessly to live tournaments.
His achievements include two WPT high roller titles in 2013 and 2014, along with additional high-stakes scores thereafter. In 2016, he triumphed in a Triton Super High Roller event, earning $359,229, and the following year, he finished third in another Triton event for $1 million. To date, Cates has accrued $7.4 million in live tournament earnings.
Cates has solidified his position as one of the game's top performers.
4– Phil Ivey
This seasoned poker professional needs little introduction. Originally from New Jersey, Phil Ivey has made a name for himself in both live and online poker. During the poker boom, he was a familiar face at high-stakes virtual tables.
Some estimates place his online earnings at around $20 million. Even if this figure is exaggerated, it still represents an impressive sum. Ivey has also been a regular participant in televised poker shows and has played in some of the largest cash games worldwide, particularly in Asia.
Ivey's impressive online earnings complement his live tournament success, where he has amassed over $30 million, along with ten WSOP bracelets and one WPT title. He actively competes in events around the globe, and in recent years, he has participated more frequently in high-stakes tournaments. His recent performances in 2020 included a victory and a runner-up finish in two $50,000 events hosted in Sochi, Russia, netting him a total of $1.4 million. WSOP Phil Ivey has consistently demonstrated his ability to excel on any poker platform.
This Finnish poker player has garnered significant recognition through numerous appearances on televised poker programs like Poker After Dark. Antonius boasts a rich history of success in both online and live poker. He is known for competing in nosebleed stakes cash games and is believed to have won upwards of $11 million online, having participated in some of the largest pots ever recorded.
5 – Patrik Antonius
Antonius was once sponsored as an online professional and has achieved remarkable results in several of the industry’s most prestigious events, including impressive placements in massive online tournaments. In 2008, he secured second place in a $25,000 buy-in Heads-Up PLO tournament, earning $320,000.
His portfolio includes three WPT final table appearances and one WPT title, alongside more than $12 million in live tournament earnings.
Recognized by several in the poker community, Antonius played a crucial role during the poker boom.
Starting with a mere $500 deposit online, this Texas-based poker player, known as Tollerene, made significant strides in his game, advancing from $25/$50 No-Limit Hold'em and Pot-Limit Omaha to some of the biggest online stakes. He frequently faced off against Viktor Blom in high-stakes cash games, accumulating estimated earnings exceeding $10 million during the early 2010s.
6 – Ben Tollerene
In addition to his cash game successes, Tollerene has accumulated significant winnings from high-profile online tournaments, reportedly surpassing $3.5 million. Following the events of Black Friday, he heavily traveled to continue competing and spends considerable time playing online from Canada.
As a tournament player, he has achieved $9.5 million in winnings. A dedicated high roller, Tollerene has secured multiple six- and seven-figure scores, including a noteworthy victory in September 2019 at the British Poker Open, where he won a £103,000 event netting him over $1 million.
He’s also a regular live cash game This 26-year-old German poker player, known as \"CrownUpGuy,\" made quite an impact in the mid-2010s, achieving a stunning $1.3 million win in a single tournament. Holz's abilities at the poker table have also proven effective in live tournaments. He finished 25th in the 2015 WSOP Main Event, earning $262,574.
Holz has thrived in high roller events as well, winning the Triton Super High Roller in 2018 for $3.5 million, and later securing another runner-up position for an additional $3.5 million.
7 – Fedor Holz
His impressive record features numerous six- and seven-figure payouts, accumulating nearly $33 million in live tournament winnings.
In recent years, Holz has shifted his focus away from poker, venturing into the business realm. He announced in 2017 that he would primarily be stepping back from the poker scene, coinciding with his involvement in launching a mindset coaching and meditation application called Primed Mind.
With his remarkable mental game, Holz undoubtedly understands the significance of maintaining a focused and prepared mindset.
The Galfond Challenge emerged as a landmark event in poker during 2019 and 2020, wherein this high-stakes player faced off against various challengers in Pot Limit Omaha at wildly high stakes in a heads-up format.
Some of his opponents included established figures like Bill Perkins, Brandon Adams, Chance Kornuth, and Dan 'Jungleman' Cates, as well as other online specialists. Not only is Galfond an exceptional player, but he also operates as a poker entrepreneur, having developed a well-regarded training platform and establishing his own real-money online poker site.
8 – Phil Galfond
Playing under the monikers \"OMGClayAiken\" and \"MrSweets28,\" Galfond has participated in high-stakes online games and is estimated to have earned over $10 million from his virtual poker endeavors.
Originally hailing from Canada, he now spends a significant amount of time there to legally play online. In addition to his online achievements, Galfond also boasts an impressive live poker career with nearly $3 million in tournament earnings, including three WSOP gold bracelets.
Engaging in high-stakes play comes with considerable stress; in April 2020, Galfond candidly shared the pressures associated with these high-stake challenges against tough competition. After overcoming a deficit of nearly €1 million against a Galfond Challenge opponent, he secured his win along with a €100,000 side bet victory.
He remarked on Twitter: 'While engaging in battles against a skilled opponent can be enjoyable day after day, it can also be incredibly tiring. I enjoy pushing my limits, but it's crucial to recognize when to set boundaries.'
Although not as widely recognized as some other players on this list, Dang had already achieved over $8 million in online winnings by the late 2010s. Hailing from Springfield, Virginia, his username “Urindanger” perfectly captured the challenges faced by opponents contending against him online. He began his poker journey while pursuing an engineering degree at the University of Virginia. After quickly depleting an initial $200 deposit online, he reinvested another $200 and persevered from there.
Explore the list of the Top 15 players in the poker universe according to 888poker. Learn about their exceptional skills and discover what it is that places them at the forefront of the game.
9 – Di Dang
Who are the leading Online Poker Players in the world right now?
The 15 Top Online Poker Players of 2020
The most successful online poker players tend to share several key characteristics:
10 – Ben Sulsky
They tend to take bold risks, showing little hesitation when faced with high-stakes games.
They exhibit remarkable endurance, able to focus on a screen for extended sessions.
They possess a unique capability to juggle several tables simultaneously.
These individuals showcase extraordinary talents at the poker table. With that in mind, here’s a rundown of some of the most prominent figures in online poker today.
11 – Bertrand Grospellier
It's worth noting that numerous online poker players labor behind the scenes, remaining relatively unknown to the broader poker community. The players in this list have become prominent due to their participation in live events and coverage in the media.
As is often the case, the rankings are subjective and open to various interpretations.
"Isildur1\" amassed millions in online earnings even before his true identity was uncovered. This Swedish poker prodigy began playing at the highest stakes around the late 2000s, frequently facing off against other top competitors on this list.
He has been involved in some of the highest-stakes hands in the annals of online poker, with regular opponents in high-pressure pots including Tom Dwan, Phil Ivey, Patrik Antonius, Brian Hastings, and a host of others.
12 – Mike McDonald
By 2009, Isildur1 had participated in ten of the largest online poker pots recorded. He consistently faced off against some of the game’s elite players at the highest stakes available.
At just 29, Blom started his poker journey as a teenager, accumulating over $275,000 by the time he was 15. However, he faced significant losses and had to rebuild his bankroll. He once achieved a stunning win of $1.7 million within two weeks during his online career.
Transitioning to live poker proved beneficial for Blom, resulting in impressive achievements despite playing fewer events than some of his peers. Noteworthy successes include winning $1.3 million at the PCA High Roller in 2012, bringing his total live earnings to nearly $3 million.
After years of intense competition online at extraordinary stakes, the player known as \"durrrr\" found further success at live cash games and tournaments. Originally from Edison, New Jersey, Dwan is now 33 and left Boston University to pursue a professional poker career.
13 – Martin Jacobson
Durrrr earned a reputation as one of the most formidable players in the online arena. His exploits were chronicled in the acclaimed book \"Ship It Holla Ballas!\" by Jonathan Grotenstein and Storms Reback.
During the poker boom era, Dwan would often engage in marathon sessions of high-stakes cash games, regularly competing against formidable players such as Phil Ivey, Guy Laliberte, Patrik Antonius, and Viktor Blom.
Dwan has accrued about $3.4 million in live tournament earnings, having made an even greater fortune in cash games, both online and live. He remains active in the poker scene, frequently playing in Southeast Asia, especially in Macau.
Dwan's talents and substantial winnings have solidified his status as a legend of online poker.
14 – David Benefield
This 30-year-old from Maryland transitioned from playing at minimal stakes online to achieving remarkable success both in virtual and live arenas. By 2014, it was reported that Cates crossed the $11 million mark in online earnings, including a staggering $5 million in 2010 alone. He is known to have faced significant opponents like Viktor Blom and Tom Dwan online.
Cates started his poker journey as a teenager, later pursuing a degree in economics at the University of Maryland. However, he chose to fully devote himself to poker, leaving college to focus on the game.
This bold choice proved lucrative, as his online poker abilities translated well to live tournament settings.
Cates has claimed two WPT high roller titles back in 2013 and 2014, with even more high-stakes tournament victories following those wins. He also triumphed at a Triton Super High Roller in 2016 for $359,229 and placed third in another Triton event worth $1 million the subsequent year. His live tournament earnings now total over $7.4 million.
Cates has firmly established himself as a top-tier player in the poker landscape. Columbia University Much has been discussed about this veteran poker player. Hailing from New Jersey, Ivey is a household name in the poker community and has made significant waves in online formats. He frequently participated in high-stakes cash games during the poker boom.