Poker Player Profile : Chris Moneymaker

One of the newest poker players around is Chris Moneymaker. An accountant from Tennessee, Moneymaker won the 2003 World Series. More amazing than the victory is the road Moneymaker took to get there. Moneymaker won his entry into the tournament by playing a $40 satellite at PokerStars and ended up winning $2,500,000. After he won his trip to the WSOP, he didn't have much money for the cost of flying and staying in Vegas for the week, so he sold part of his entry to his father and his friend to cover the cost for the trip in exchange for a portion of his winnings. He also donated $25,000 of his winnings to cancer research.

Originally from Spring Hill, Tennessee, Moneymaker began playing bridge with his grandmother and later developed a love of blackjack with his father. After seeing the movie "Rounders", Moneymaker began playing Texas Hold'em with his friends. Wanting tougher competition, Moneymaker had a problem. Living in Tennessee, he was four hours away from a legal casino. Then Moneymaker turned on his computer.

Chris tried several online poker sites, but PokerStars' muti-table tournament schedule intrigued him. It drew him into countless $20 and $30 events. He started rising through the competition, cashing and even winning some of those huge events. Then one day Moneymaker entered a $39 satellite tournament with 18 players in it. Moneymaker won the tournament and was on the next round against 60 other players. The stakes now were considerably higher. The winner of the big satellite would go to Vegas with a $10,000 buy-in to the World Series of Poker (WSOP). Moneymaker won, and he was off to the WSOP

When the tournament began, Moneymaker's only goal was to salvage his pride and survive through the first day. Not only did he survive, but he ended the first day with more than 60,000 in chips. With that day behind him, he decided he now wanted to make it into the money

When the tournament began, Moneymaker's only goal was to salvage his pride and survive through the first day. Not only did he survive, but he ended the first day with more than 60,000 in chips. With that day behind him, he decided he now wanted to make it into the money.