Legends of Poker: Great Players

Poker has its share of celebrities and stars. Poker players of all variants, shapes, ages and genders would be wise to know what roads have been traveled before they set on the championship road. These two are among the greatest in the game of poker right now.

Best known for his astounding eleven World Series of Poker bracelets, Phillip J. Hellmuth is a legend and a celebrity among poker players. The poker bracelets are of course, part of that legend, but his razor wit and quick comments have earned both the ire and awe of many other players. Some of his quotes include "If luck weren't involved, I guess I'd win every one," and "I've revolutionized the way to play Texas Hold'Em.

His approximately ten million dollar total in winnings is overshadows by his questionable behavior. At one point, in striking irony, Phillip threatened to walk out because other people wouldn't stop talking on his turn, declaring that he would never return to these tournaments again. People have said that in poker, this is his only weakness. If he did not chatter so much, sometimes an obvious indication of his hand strength, he could potentially become the best in the world.

The Poker Brat has made several instructional videos already, from Ultimate White to Black Belt Course to Phil Hellmuth's Million Dollar Poker Secrets, along a number of other books and articles for magazines such as Cardplayer Magazine. In 2004 he also partnered with a company to release a poker game on the mobile phone, his celebrity status aiding in lifting the phone game to top ten status for a time.

Dolye Brunson is another poker celebrity and superstar who had countless achievements in poker and links several generations of poker players together. The writer of the first poker book written by a top player was born August 10, 1933 in Texas and has effectively played for fifty years. He was the first person to win two consecutive World Series of Poker Championships, the first to earn a million dollars in poker and shares the honor of having ten poker bracelets, shared with Johnny Chan and second only to the aforementioned Phil Hellmuth.

The Texas Dolly, as this poker celebrity has been known, has come a long way from his start of illegal gambling, which had ties to the mob and organized crime at the time. At some points, he admits, guns have been pulled on him, which have lead to severe and violent beatings. Back in the day, poker was not the media darling it had rapidly become today, or the legal one, leaving him with very little recourse.

In 2004 he rereleased Super Secrets, his aforementioned self-published book and also released a book called Poker Wisdom of a Champion.

They come from everywhere, the card champions of today and yesterday. Future champions will be walking in their footsteps, along the shore of greatness. It is only fair to give props to the celebrities currently on the top.