Chris Moneymaker
Chris Moneymaker was born in 1971 in Atlanta, Georgia, where he went on to receive a masters degree in Accounting from the University of Tennessee. He started out playing poker games around the area, and when he noticed that he had a knack for it, he turned it into a full-fledged career, as he gave up Accounting. He was the World Series of Poker Champion at the 2003 World Series of poker. He is the first champion that qualified by an online site, something that gave him a lot of attention to start with and actually spurred to activity of many to seek out the online poker games. This phenomenon is referred to as the "Moneymaker Effect". His start in poker came with the qualification at a satellite tournament at PokerStars online. He was unknown at the start of the World Series of Poker tournament in 2003. His skills with poker from day one caught the attention of Lou Diamond causing him to be noted as Diamond's "Dark Horse".
After his win at his first live poker tournament, he left his job to become a spokesperson for PokerStars as well as Harrah's Entertainment. He has played in other tournaments such as World Poker Tour, PokerStars Caribbean Adventure and World Championship of Online Poker. He has also competed in the European Poker Tour. Wins include, PokerStars WCOOP No Limit Hold'em, WTP Bay 101 Shooting Stars Main Event, EPT London No Limit Hold'em and WSOP$5,000 Limited Pot in Omaha. Currently, he has one bracelet and four money finishes in WSOP. He also has two money finishes and one final table in the World Poker Tour.
He is married to Christina and has a daughter Ashley. He currently is based in Nashville, Tennessee. Moneymaker is currently heavily involved in the poker industry at this time and is a member of Team PokerStars Pro. When not working in the Poker industry, he plays sports and spends time with his family.
One of the biggest thing that Moneymaker is known for was his bluff at the 2003 WSOP game, in which he bluffed a 'King High' hand against the runner up, Sammy Farha. During the time this was the hand that highlighted the entire game and was referred to as the bluff of a century by all those that follow the poker tables.
Moneymaker does not play as much in the public eye anymore, however he is still consistent to the public. He has published many books on poker that are great sellers for those that are trying to get involved in the poker game. Most of those that have played with the man state that he has no real knowledge of the game and is a fluke. Whether he is a fluke or not, he is contributed with doing many more things for the game of poker than any other player has in the last years. Though, those who have played with him state that he is a charming guy that is not afraid to bluff his way into a win. And this tactic has proven to be the reason for much of his success.