The World Series of Poker is now in its 54th year.
In its simplest form, the WSOP awards no more than four or five bracelets per year. As currently configured, the number is closer to 200, which is Las Vegas, the Rozvadov event, and the GGPoker and WSOP.com online awards events combined.
However, if you look at the list of the biggest winners during the festival, the inequality is not at all apparent. The great ruler of the category, Phil Hellmuth, won 16 first places. However, in the past two decades, there have only been five championships.
If we look further down, it gets worse. The wonderful 10-bracelet trio of Johnny Chan, Doyle Brunson and Phil Ivey have owned just one bracelet in the past 10 years, We will compile a list of alternatives within this time frame.
The four bracelets are exceptions. The decision was easy. The most successful young players at the WSOP can be found on this level’s list. George Danzer, Michael Addamo, Kevin Gerhart, Benny Glaser, Loren Klein, Julien Martini, Adrian Mateos, Asi Moshe, David Peters, Ben Yu or Anthony Zinno They all have four WSOP events and are in Races won over the past decade.
Okay, let’s start with this list, which is pretty small.
Brad Ruben (4)
This player deserves special mention as all of his bracelets are for 2020. He is the undisputed ruler of the current decade and a prime example of the dramatic changes the WSOP has brought about, as he receives half of his bracelets after winning an online tournament.
None of his victories went into No-Limit Hold’em.
Brian Yoon (5)
Yoon made his 2013 WSOP bracelet debut as the “Little One” $1,111 winner. Notably, he won Monster Stack in 2017. That said, he has twice beaten games with more than 5,000 participants. He also finished in the top 100 twice in the Main Event.
His progress has been remarkable. His first non-NLHE non-NLHE cash didn’t come until 2019, and his most recent victories in 2021 and 2023 came in a 2-7 triple tie and a stallion event.
Brian Hastings (5).
The former Nosebleeds player owns a 2012 bracelet that fits his online profile like a glove, the HU Championship.
I surprised everyone in 2015 and more with a handful of doubles, 10 match and stud tournaments.
He has since won gold again in three other different formats: H.O.R.S.E., Stud Hi-Lo and 2-7 Triple Draw.
He won another gold medal in three other different formats. >Shaun Deeb (6)
Obviously, you have to be an expert in minority forms to stand out at festivals. Shaun Deeb is the ultimate expression of poker’s versatility. Dibb is a controversial figure among his peers, but is flawless from a purely competitive standpoint. He has won a bracelet in each of the past six Las Vegas-only events.
His poor efficiency put pressure on him as he collected and led eight podiums and still held countless other final tables during that time.
You don’t have to be an expert to predict that, with any luck, Deeb will be the dominant WSOP ruler for the next few years.
