Chris Moneymaker Bio - Poker Star.com Pro
In 2003 the world of poker and the life of one man changed forever. That is the year in which Chris Moneymaker won the biggest poker tournament in the world; the World Series of Poker. Since that time people have laughingly questioned whether Moneymaker is the poker star’s real name. While it sounds too good to be true, that is not the only area where this poker fairy tale meets with real life.
Chris Moneymaker Before the WSOP
Prior to winning the World Series of Poker in 2003 Chris Moneymaker worked as an accountant earning in the neighborhood of $40,000 per year. He had always had an interest in gambling, beginning in childhood when he played bridge with his grandmother and later when he shared a love of blackjack with his father.
After graduating with an accounting degree at the University of Tennessee he went on to obtain a Masters degree and then settled into suburban life with his accounting career, all the while dreaming of being a professional poker player.
The film “Rounders” changed the direction of Chris’ life by introducing him to the world of Texas Hold’em. Before long, he decided that he wanted to move beyond playing with his friends. Unfortunately, the nearest legal table was four hours from home.
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PokerStars; however, allowed Chris to enter a multi-table tournament. He began to enter numerous $20 and $30 events and began to rise up the ranks of competition; even winning some very big events. At the time that seemed like a big deal but it would be nothing compared to what was to come.
Eventually Chris Moneymaker entered a $39 satellite tournament ant that tournament would change the course of his life. At the time Chris has said that he did not even believe he had a chance. As it turned out, Chris won the tournament and achieved a satellite to the World Series of Poker.
Chris Moneymaker Wins the 2003 WSOP
Suddenly, he found himself in a position facing more than 60 other players with a potential prize that was simply mind boggling. The winner of that satellite would go on to Vegas with an automatic $10,000 buy-in to the World Series of Poker. At the end Chris was able to achieve the unthinkable; converting $39 into $10,000.
Despite the buy-in Chris realized he would still have to come up with the money for hotel and airfare. To scrape together the money he asked his father and a friend, David Gamble (his real name) to stake him some money in exchange for a portion of his tournament winnings.
When Chris Moneymaker arrived at the Las Vegas Binion Horseshoe he was faced with some of the greatest poker players in the world. Despite this, he was able to make his way to the final table and face well known poker star Sammy Farha. Even then, he could not imagine winning the whole pot. That is until his flopped two pair created a full house and he was able to knock out Farha’s pair of flopped jacks.
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