Aruba, 2005.

Edit: Would have been kinda difficult for me to hold his rings and bump into him at the bar and on the beach if this was an online tourney, no? :D

Guess it might have been kind of difficult but who know lol

Phil Ivey. He is just so consistent and is just such a smart player. I've also never really seen him play a hand poorly. Not to mention there is a new era of poker players. Those old timers have much experience, but the wits and smarts of these young gunners is phenominal.

That is a tough one, I have really only been into poker a short time but as I see people like Phil Ivey (popular guy) lol and Chris <Jesus> Ferguson play those 2 have to stand out the most to me. 2 guys that you see at the final table or the final few at least over and over, that word again consistent poker players. They also have good table behaviors, just kinda laid back and play there game.

Phil Ivey or TJ Cloutier, TJ is one hell of a tournament player.

C'mon everyone. It's obvious:

Phil Hellmuth says Phil Hellmuth is the best! :D

I think its hard to determine the best poker player. It's not all cut and dry like asking who is the greatest homerun hitter ever (Hank Aaron) or the best RB of all time (Walter Payton). With poker as much skill as there is there is also some luck. You could know all the odds but there is still some luck for the exact card you need to come out. Also put into perspective Chan won 2, Doyle won 2, I believe Ungar won 3. However look at the field size. It's definately easier to win in a field of 50-100 than it is 2000-6000. If I had to pick 1 I guess it would be Harrington. 2 out of the last 3 final tables during the era of the poker boom, not to mention he won 1 as well. Also look at Raymer, ya some of his calls might have been the wrong move and he caught cards but he did win the second largest field and finished like 25th in thee largest field. A few people said Ivey. It seems like in these big fields he is always in at least the top 50. Thats why I think it is to hard to name the best when the criteria isn't concrete.

Harrington is a very good player and I mean no disrespect to him but he isnt even in the same league as Ivey, Negreanu or Jesus.

Ivey is the best because he is just on another level than any other player. His fellows players give him more respect than anyone. If anyone has ever read Josh Ariah's blog, in one entry he said that Phil Ivey is so good than he should only be allowed to have one hole card. A comment like this from a fellow pro is one helluva statement.

Negreanu is the 2nd best player right now but only one problem I have with him. He seems to be getting caught up in all the advertising, sponsors, etc while Ivey isnt and I think Negreanu's play is suffering from this. Everytime you read Negreanu's blog he is always talking about a new project, etc. While this is nice for him, its affecting his play as you can see this year as he was nowhere to be found.

Jesus is one of the most underrated players around. He goes deep in tons of tournies and is one of the best players. He just doesnt do it with a flashy style or anything, he just plays his game.

i feel ivey and moneymaker r the best.

haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahahahahaha. :D

Funniest post of the year!

This guy is too much.

Best Ever
 

I'm gonna have to go with one of the following....

Phil Ivey
Johnny Chan
Doyle Brunson
Chris Ferguson
Dan Harrington
Gus Hanson

most of those are obvious

I like Ivey the most, personally. But, I enjoy watching John Juwanda and Howard Lederer play.

I detest Hellmuth's abilities....he just grates on my last nerves.

Chris Moneymaker isn't the best player in the world??? HE WAS WORLD CHAMPION in 2003!!! HOW MANY WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS DO CRAPPY PLAYERS LIKE DOYLE BRUNSON OR JOHNNY CHAN HAVE HUH!?!

Phil Ivey has the best poker face. Daniel Negraneu can read people like books. it would haveto be between them two.

moneymaker? have you even watched him play? I give him credit for winning the wsop but with soo many ppl it becomes more luck then anything

fellow canadian daniel negraneau is the best

I love dave 'devilfish' ulliot, hes so unorthadox, its very tough to get a read cuz he could be calling with AA or all-in with 2,7 (lol well not quite) Hes very unpredictable and as much i like him i'd hate to play against him. It's too bad he mainly competes overseas and does anyone know if he belongs to pokerstars?

He works for UB, so I suspect most of his online play is there. He also told me that he was starting his own poker site - I think it was supposed to be live by now, but I haven't followed up with him.

Stu Unger Is The Best Poker Player Ever To Live His Main Events Are Still Unmatched And No One Will Ever Win 3. Plus If U Have Ever Heard The Story Where He Lost 100000 Dollars Because He Bet Someone He Could Call Every Card In The Guys Hand And Only Missed One.

I didn't see him online for the Holiday Bounty tournament either. (Although I may have missed him). I thought the original email from them about the tournament mentioned his name, but now I'm not so sure. Is he still with UB or have they parted ways?

EDIT: Well, it appears he's still part of Team UB as he's listed on the main page, but I still swear I didn't see him play in the Holiday Bounty last Saturday night. I couldn't actually play in it as I was at this party. Fortunately the party required the use of my laptop and a neighbour of the party-throwers was gracious enough to let me "borrow" their wireless connection so I could pop on periodically and check the status of the bounties. I noticed that Hellmuth went out fairly early. Man, that would have been a sweet takedown. Decent bounty too: 10-person UB themed poker table, UB chips & cards, 10 UB shirts & hats, and, oh, $250. The actual prizes were decent as well.

Can any one person really be the best? I mean look at the last 2 WSOPs. Totally unknowns end up winning. And Steve Danaman wow 2nd. I mean its all in the cards. If you get the cards you can you can win no matter how good you are. Just my opinion.

I disagree with you very much. But I love playing with you "it's all luck" guys.

Yes, anyone can win in the short term, but the best players will win the most in the long run. Period.

I'm the best player of all time
without the thousands and thousands I've shelled off to shark's
They would not be able to pay their bills
Well i'm not the best player of all time but
I sure do keep the good players bankrolls filled :)