Poker

October 18, 2023

The Most Expensive Poker Games Ever Played

Emily Tremblay
Written byEmily TremblayWriter
Researched byPriya PatelResearcher

Poker is one of the most played casino games ever in both online and land-based casinos. Poker is a group of card comparison games where participants bet on which hand, in terms of the rules of that particular game, is the greatest. The game is extremely famous, and it will surely make some people curious about the biggest prize pools in its tournaments. If you are one of those people who are curious about this topic, then you have come to the right place. In this post, we will discuss the most expensive poker games ever played. 

The Most Expensive Poker Games Ever Played

World Series of Poker

If you’re familiar with the world of gambling tournaments, then you surely will have heard of WSOP. Whether it be online casinos or land-based casinos, WSOP takes center stage. This is also due to the event's size and the amount of prize money it raises annually. Over the previous ten years, it has maintained its position as the biggest, particularly for the tournament's main event. Since this tournament's inception in 1970, the prize pool has grown over time.

Online Casino Poker Tournaments

As said earlier, the WSOP offers the biggest poker tournaments. So, it is fair to say that many people who have aspired to win the reward of a million dollars by competing in poker game tournaments have been inspired by the WSOP. But do people win a great sum of money in such tournaments? 

Well, statistics indicate that people have even won more money at poker tournaments. So, from a single poker game, you could envision winning as much as $5 million or even $8 million. The obvious reality is that, since they have already happened, such possibilities are not unsupported by evidence.

The World Series of Poker has historically paid out the most. Its $10,000 main event has contributed to the greatest prize pools in history. Online competitions, however, also offer astonishing payouts. There are several online casinos today that regularly host tournaments. Players can sign up for such contests and earn significant sums of money, sometimes even millions.

The Biggest Win

The WCOOP, or World Championship of Online Poker, had the biggest victory in an online competition in 2010. PokerStars hosted this particular tournament with a $5200 buy-in. There were 2443 players in total, and a prize pool of $12.22 million was collected. Tyson, a.k.a. POTTERPOKER won the competition's top prize of $2.3 million.

The Biggest WSOP Wins

The biggest five wins at the main event of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) are the following:

  • The 2014 WSOP Main Event: Nine players competed in the finals for the top prize. The first award, worth $10 million, went to Martin Jacobson.
  • Main Event WSOP 2006: It is one of the biggest events in the history of poker competitions. This is mostly due to the fact that there were over 8,000 participants, and the prize pool's value increased to $82,512,162. In the end, $2 million in prize money was awarded to the victor.
  • 2014 Big for One Drop: This was established by the One Drop Foundation, a nonprofit organization, and it has amassed more winnings than the WSOP main event. Dan Colman took home the top prize of $15.3 million in 2014.
  • 2018 Big One for One Drop: The first-place prize from this competition was worth $10 million, bringing Bonomo's total live winnings to $43 million.
  • 2012 Big One for One Drop: The total prize money awarded for this competition exceeded $42 million, with $18.35 being the largest sum.

While we are at it, let’s discuss the best online poker players, too.

Best Online Poker Players

The three best poker players are:

  • Vladimir Blom: The poker legend of Swedish descent is known only by his online alias, "Isildur1." Since the turn of the millennium, he has played the greatest stakes. He began playing when he was 15 years old, and by the time he was 29, he had a bankroll of at least $275,000. In just two weeks, he even gained $1.7 million by playing online poker games.
  • Thomas Dwan: He is the next in line and is referred to as "Durrrr." Dwan has earned $3.4 million from live and online events by the age of 34.
  • Darcy Cates: A 30-year-old poker player from Maryland who goes by the alias "Jungleman12" has amassed $11 million in earnings only from online winnings.

Conclusion

Poker is one of the most famous and widely played games. The game has been in business for so long, and still, many people play it as a hobby. That being said, poker isn’t an easy game to play. To play poker, you will have to practice and spend so much time mastering the strategies and learning the rules. When you master the basics and learn all the rules, then you will have so much fun.

The WSOP tournaments offer massive prizes for all participants, and many poker players dream of winning millions of dollars there. Still, in an online competition, the biggest victory was the WCOOP, where Tyson, a.k.a. POTTERPOKER won the competition's top prize of $2.3 million.

About the author
Emily Tremblay
Emily Tremblay
About

Emily, a dynamic blend of tech-savvy and casino enthusiast, hails from the snowy landscapes of Canada. With her innate grasp of cultural nuances, she ensures online casino guides resonate deeply with Canadians. Emily's spirited and engaging nature makes her a favourite among peers.

Send mail
More posts by Emily Tremblay
ThunderPick
Bonus C$2,000

Latest news

Navigating the Surge of Online Casinos: A Guide to Safe and Enjoyable Gaming
2024-04-18

Navigating the Surge of Online Casinos: A Guide to Safe and Enjoyable Gaming

News

Please confirm your location

This website only displays operators licensed in Ontario, Canada. Please confirm whether you are located in Ontario.

YesNo