Happy 10th Anniversary Mr. Moneymaker

Unbelievably, this month is the 10th anniversary of Chris Moneymaker’s epic victory over Sam Farha in the 2003 World Series of Poker (WSOP) main event (back then, the WSOP was held in May at Binion’s Horseshoe in downtown Las Vegas). Qualifying via a $39 satellite on Pokerstars, Moneymaker defeated a main event field of 839 players, living the dream of every poker player. Ultimately, this accountant from Tennessee inspired generations of poker players to make the annual pilgrimage to Las Vegas every summer.

Millions of people jumped on the poker bandwagon after Moneymaker’s improbable victory. For me, his triumph didn’t kick-start me playing poker since I had learned the game while I was young. However, after watching what ESPN’s Norman Chad proclaimed to be, “beyond a fairytale, It’s inconceivable.” I jumped on the poker tournament bandwagon.
Since then, I have become entrenched in the poker world, playing professionally as well as being part of the media. I have befriended Chris, having interviewed him numerous times for ESPN and my radio show, while also hosting him at Foxwoods Resort Casino.

Many players think that Chris Moneymaker has been a one-hit wonder and has not achieved anything in the world of poker since 2003. On the contrary, he has earned almost $1 million since 2003 with numerous deep runs including two titles and two major runner-up finishes. Fellow WSOP main event champion, Joe Hachem, once told me that he felt that Chris Moneymaker was one of the most underrated players in the world. Although no-limit hold’em etched his name in poker lore forever, many people do not realize that Omaha is his favorite game. Despite all of his achievements, the one that stands out is his role as one of the best poker ambassadors ever.

In honor of the 10th anniversary of his triumph, here is a list emphasizing the numbers one through ten for the man who changed poker forever.

1 World Poker Tour (WPT) final table at the Bay 101 Shooting Stars main event in March of 2004. This appearance occurred only 10 months after his WSOP win. He lost one of the few three way all-in final hands when his pocket jacks (J J) lost to Phil Gordon’s A 7 after an ace flopped. Moneymaker ended up finishing in second place for $200,000, the third largest score of his career.

2 titles since winning the 2003 WSOP main event:

2008 $1,000 no-limit hold’em Asia Pacific Poker Tour Big Game Poker Championship
2009 $500 pot-limit Omaha at the Gold Strike World Poker Open
In addition to his WPT runner-up finish, he also finished second in:
2009 WSOP Circuit $400 no-limit event in Tunica
2011 NBC National Heads-up Championship

3s: the pair he called with during the critical hand versus Dutch Boyd in the 2003 WSOP main event. After Boyd raised preflop, Moneymaker called from the big blind. After seeing a 9 5 2 flop, Moneymaker surprisingly led out. Staring him down, Boyd decided to push all-in. After assessing the situation, Moneymaker put Boyd on two high cards and made the call. He was right as Boyd flipped over K Q. When the turn (4) and river (A) bricked, Moneymaker took over the chiplead and never looked back.

4th place in $1,000 H.O.R.S.E. event at 2013 Pokerstars Caribbean Adventure. Throughout his storied career, Moneymaker has made over 10 final tables. This fourth place finish was his most recent final table in January earlier this year, taking home $5,140 for his efforts.

5 4: The final hand Moneymaker was holding when he won in the 2003 WSOP main event. After Moneymaker called Farha’s preflop raise, the dealer spread J 5 4 on the felt. After a continuation bet by Farha, Moneymaker check-raised his opponent with his bottom two pair. However, Farha decided to go with his hand, pushing his remaining chips into the pot. After Moneymaker snap called, Farha revealed J 10, realizing he was the underdog. When the 8 missed Farha on the turn, Moneymaker was an 82 percent favorite with one card to come. Finally, the dealer revealed the 5 on the river, giving Moneymaker a full house and the 2003 WSOP main event bracelet.

6 WSOP related cashes:
2003 main event (winner)
2004 $5,000 pot-limit Omaha (10th-place)
2006 $1,500 limit hold’em shootout (28th-place)
2007 $1,500 no-limit hold’em (233rd-place)

WSOP Circuit:
2009 $400 no-limit hold’em (second-place)
2012 $345 no-limit hold’em reentry (93rd-place)

K-7: The hand Moneymaker was holding during “The Bluff of The Century” versus Sam Farha. With a slight chiplead heads-up, Moneymaker raised from the button and Farha called with Q 9. After a checked 9 6 2 flop, the 8 fell on the turn, giving Moneymaker straight and flush draws, prompting a check-raise. However, Farha made the call and the two went to the river. Although the 3 fell and missed Moneymaker completely, he pressed onward and declared, “I’m all-in.” Agonized over his decision, Farha eventually mucked his hand to the relief of the soon-to-be champion.

839 players began the 2003 WSOP main event. At the time, it was the largest field in WSOP history. After his victory, the main event registration numbers grew exponentially, peaking in 2006 with 8,773. Of course, with the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act and Black Friday, the registration numbers have decreased, but the WSOP main event last year still had 6,598 players, the fifth-largest main event field ever.

9s: the pair Phil Ivey held when he was knocked out by Moneymaker on the final table bubble of the 2003 WSOP main event. After Moneymaker raised from early position holding A Q, Ivey called from late position with pocket nines (9 9). The dealer flopped a monster for Moneymaker: Q Q 6. After a relatively small bet by Moneymaker, only Ivey made the call. However, the turn (9) seemingly gave Ivey control of the hand. After Moneymaker led once again, Ivey pushed all-in. When Moneymaker quickly called, he suddenly realized how far behind he was. Nevertheless, the miracle A hit on the river, eliminating the best player in the world and sending Moneymaker and the other eight players to the final table.

Amazingly, seven years later during the 2010 WSOP main event final table, a hand between Michael Mizrachi and Matthew Jarvis was uncannily similar. The two players pushed all-in pre-flop, revealing A Q for Grinder and 9 9 for Jarvis. The flop came Q Q 8, giving Mizrachi a huge lead. However, the turn once again favored the underdog as the 9 fell on the turn. But just like in 2003, the A hit on the river, completing another incredible WSOP main event hand.

10 memorable years since Moneymaker’s victory in the 2003 WSOP main event. Thank you Chris for changing the face of poker forever and giving so many of us the opportunity to make a living doing what we love. ♠

Bernard Lee is the lead commentator for WSOP Circuit live stream, poker columnist ESPN.com, author of “The Final Table, Volume I and II” and radio host of “The Bernard Lee Poker Show,” which can be found on RoundersRadio.com or via podcast on iTunes. Follow Bernard Lee on Twitter: @BernardLeePoker or visit him at www.BernardLeePoker.com.