Sometimes Winning Poker Players Are Losers
In other sports, particularly golf, you here the following said about a great player at times, “he’s the best player who has never won a major event”. People might say that of Sergio Garcia right now. Who are the poker players of today who fit into this profile?
In golf there are four grand slam events, called the majors. What is a major event in poker? Over the years this has been defined as any tournament with a $5,000 buy in, and over 100 players. Many WSOP bracelets are earned in events that aren’t considered major poker events. So, let’s list a few of the best who haven’t accomplished this feat.
Patrik Antonius fits on this short list easily. Many consider him as one of the best high stakes cash game players around. He started playing some tournaments in 2005. In a short time, he has collected over $2 million in cash.
One of his closest calls in a major event was a 3rd place finish in the $10,000 pot-limit omaha World Championship WSOP event. Patrik can be seen playing the biggest cash games both live, and online.
Our number two player is Todd Brunson. Yes Todd’s father is none other that Doyle “Texas Dolly” Brunson himself. Like Antonius, Todd is a cash game expert. It is said that Todd won over $13.5 million in two days of poker. It was a heads-up $50,000-$100,000 limit holdem match, which was referred to in the book The Professor, The Banker, And The Suicide King.
Todd has proven his tournament skills as well. He has a WSOP bracelet for his efforts, but the buy in wasn’t large enough to qualify it as a major win. Todd can win a major event. There is no doubt about that. He just needs to get away from the cash games, and focus more on tournament poker.
Our top selection for best not to win a major tournament is David the dragon Pham. He has won millions of dollars in tournament play. Unlike many players he is more of a tournament pro, playing lots of events.
He has 29 career wins to go with his 2 WSOP bracelets, and over 170 cashes. In 2007 alone he won 4 events, and over $1.8 million in cash. It seems amazing that a major tournament win has eluded him.
David has been playing a lot of big tournaments for years. This makes it even more surprising that he hasn’t cracked a win in a major event. Being more of a tournament pro, it seems only a matter of time before he can claim a victory in a major poker event.
In one way it’s getting easier to win a big one. As poker entry fees increase, there are more and more opportunities to win a major event. But, making it more difficult is the size of the fields in these events. Also, as the money has increased, a lot of very good players are fighting for these prizes.
When you have more players, it is harder to win. This is why the best players in the world don’t win all the WSOP events. When you have to beat a thousand plus players, no one has that great of a chance. While poker is a game of skill, in the short run of one tournament, luck plays a huge role.