With this year’s World Series of Poker tournament kicking off on September 30 until November 23, fans are anticipating which players they should be monitoring over the course of the two-month long poker extravaganza.
With a number of last year’s big names missing from this year’s event, it is anyone’s game. Continue reading to find out who you should be keeping an eye on in the 2021 World Series of Poker.
Phil Hellmuth
As one of the greatest poker players of his generation, Hellmuth is known for topping the list of most bracelet wins by a single player in the history of the World Series of Poker since its inauguration in 1970 with 15 in total. During this time, he has also found himself on 64 final tables and, as a result, was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame. As if this wasn’t enough, he also ranks fourth when it comes to his total earnings during the course of his participation in the coveted event so far. His forte may be No Hold ‘Em but he is expected to dominate this year’s tournament by also winning big in Seven Card Razz. As one of the biggest, and most well-known, names in poker, his influence on the professional poker scene cannot be overstated.
Daniel Negreanu
As one of Phil Hellmuth’s greatest competitors and the face of online poker at GGPoker, Negreanu is one of the most successful Canadian poker players of the past couple of decades. He was named the Player of the Year at the 2019 and 2020 World Series of Poker tournaments and has earned over $20,000,000 in total during the course of his professional poker playing career so far. He may only have won six World Series of Poker bracelets but his performance and hold on the event is undisputable. As a result, he is worth keeping an eye on during this year’s event as it kicks off at the end of the month.
Antonio Esfandiari
As is the case every year, the World Series of Poker attracts amateur poker players with meagre career earnings as well as high rollers with millions in career earnings. This is largely due to a series of high stakes matches and the opportunity to walk away with the most coveted non-monetary prize in the professional poker industry in the form of a bracelet. For Iran-born Esfandiari, this couldn’t be further from the truth. As a former magician, he currently tops the list of the highest earners at the World Series of Poker with over $22 million accumulated during the course of his participation in the tournament so far. This is over $3 million more than Daniel Negreanu who currently stands in second place.
Doyle Brunson
When it comes to professional poker, no player is more celebrated and well-known than Doyle Brunson. Despite winning 10 bracelets during the course of his participation at the World Series of Poker, the 87-year-old poker legend confirmed that he would be turning his back on retirement and participating in a select number of events at this year’s tournament. As a result, poker fans and players alike are anticipating the welcome return of what may be the last time the two-time World Series of Poker Main Event winner plays on a professional level.
With this year’s World Series of Poker tournament kicking off at the end of the month, a number of players are gearing up for the event of their professional careers so far. This includes Phil Hellmuth, Daniel Negreanu, Antonio Esfandiari, and Doyle Brunson.
