Top Five Poker Players In The World

This is definitely the kind of thing that provokes debate. That doesn't bother me at all. In fact, I am posting this list in hopes of generating conversation on the topic. It is definitely a classification that is difficult to justify. The reason for that is because there are so many different types of players. There are guys that play almost exclusively in tournaments and there are guys that play exclusively in cash games. There are guys who prefer the Internet, and there are guys who only play brick and mortar casinos.

There are also many different types of poker games. Where one player is great at Stud, he may be terrible at Omaha and so on. There may be many players, and I'm sure there are, who are fantastic but have chosen to stay out of the public eye for one reason or the other. I salute them for finding joy and prosperity in their anonymity.

With all those things taken into consideration, here is my list for top five poker players in the world in no particular order.

1. Daniel Negraneu. For whatever reason, this guy embodies everything you need to be a champion poker player in both tournament and cash play. He genuinely doesn't seem to care about the money ever, and seems to have a history of that kind of mindset, which is probably crucial to becoming a great player. He makes the correct move almost every time based upon his read and situation. He also happens to be one of the best readers of other players that I have ever seen. He has mastered that skill, which I'm sure has allowed his bankroll to grow exponentially over the years. Great tournament player with a no holds barred style of play and killer in cash games.

2. Phil Ivey. Phil is simply one of the most perfectly rounded players in the game. Although, he does have the occasional tendency to chase his losses in a cash situation, he also possesses the remarkable ability to walk away when things are not going well. He is incredibly even tempered and seems to possess great discipline. He doesn't appear to let downturns affect his game or he is the best at concealing that. He is a machine in tournament play and has never been afraid to take a risk. Phil also seems to have the admiration of many career players who classify him as the best player in the game today. That must be one dangerous cash player.

3. Barry Greenstein. What can I say about this guy that hasn't been said in the past. He is another remarkable player with skills that have been admired and studied by the elite of the poker community. He is a killer tournament player despite the fact that he now donates most of if not all his winnings to charity. His style of play is emulated and worshipped by pros around the world. He has been around a long time with a remarkable level achievement covering several games and not just one. He just recently won a world series belt for Razz. Consider taking a break if he ever sits down at your cash game.

4. Doyle Brunson. The godfather. The teacher of generations of players. I don't think anything else needs to be said.

5. Howard Lederer. This is another player who is incredibly talented and very well respected in the poker community. He has amassed a very respectable tournament record and is no stranger to final tables. He much like Daniel, has an uncanny ability to read other players. He is so good in fact, that it is not uncommon for other players to do everything they can to conceal their faces when in a big hand with him. Provoking that kind of fear in other players alone should get him on this list. He also has an unmerciful and devastating cash game. He knows pretty much everything there is to know about the game. He isn't considered The Professor for nothing.

That's the list. I apologize if your favorite guy or gal isn't included. These are just my humble choices and they apply only to players who are currently alive. Had the list been best players ever, I can assure you that Stu Unger and Chip Reese would have been in there.

Granted there are many others who could be considered including Helmuth, Seidel, Chan, Harman, Cunningham and more. I chose to only pick five so it wouldn't be agonizing getting the list together and as you can see, it already is. If you have other picks I'd love to hear about them.