Biggest Poker Winnings in History

08:49
30 Jul

Everyone loves to see a big win in poker; it’s what keeps the dream alive for many on the way up in their careers. Just think back to when Chris Moneymaker, then just an accountant from Tennessee chasing his own dream, won $2.5 million in the 2033 WSOP Main Event. We all looked on and believed that if he can do it then why can’t we.

In a matter of weeks there were thousands of gamblers searching for online poker sites or an overview of casino sites.

So, what kind of massive wins have we seen in poker over the last couple of decades? Quite a few that will make you think again about how committed you are to achieving your potential.

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Patrik Antonius Takes Down a Huge Pot Against Viktor “Isilidur1” Blom

The biggest ever cash game pot seen online was an incredible $1.37 million in a heads-up PLO hand played between Patrik Antonius and Viktor “Isildur1” Blom at stakes of $500/$1,000.

The pair were two of the most feared heads-up players in the world in 2009 when the hand was played and pots approaching seven figures were commonplace.

In this hand the pre-flop action went as far as a 5-bet with all the money going in on the flop. Blom turned over a straight draw while Antonius had the made straight with no help coming for Blom on later streets.

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Jamie Gold Wins $12,000,000 in 2006 WSOP Main Event

Only three years after the poker boom began, Jamie Gold won a whopping $12 million in the 2006 WSOP Main Event, a record that still stands today.

There have been four $10 million payouts since, including this year, but the huge $82,512,162 prize pool seen in 2006 still remains unbeaten.

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Bryn Kenney Wins Over $20 Million in Triton Million

The biggest ever poker tournament win was by Bryn Kenney in the 2019 Triton Super High Roller Series - Triton Million. Amazingly, he didn’t actually win the event but due to a deal he made with Aaron Zang he had already locked up enough to take home more than his opponent.

£16,890,509 remains the largest ever prize paid out to a participant in a poker tournament.

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Andy Beal and the $11.7 Million Pot

Back in 2006, a billionaire named Andy Beal took on a group of the best professionals at the time who became known as the corporation. The line up was Jen Harman, Doyle Brunson, Chip Reese, Ted Forrest, Chau Giang, Gus Hansen, Todd Brunson and eventually Phil Ivey, who had to pool their resources in order to play the eye-watering stakes.

During the match, Beal won a pot of $11.7 million from the pros but eventually ended up $16 million down before deciding to end the challenge. This is chump change for a man with such wealth but it likely dawned on him that he was seriously outgunned in the talent stakes and it would be unwise to continue.