World Series Of Poker (WSOP) Winner

The world of poker was turned on its head on 24th May, 2003 when 27-year-old Chris Moneymaker won $2,500,000 in the 34th annual World Series of Poker at Binnions' casino in Las Vegas.

"Money" as Chris is known to his friends became the first person to win this famous tournament after qualifying for the tourney via PokerStars.com with just $40!!

Moneymaker - it is his real name according to his driving licence - said, "I got lucky along the way and bluffed a lot during the tournament, but somehow I got away with it."

Players and poker experts alike agree that the win will revolutionise poker by further integrating the online game with regular poker as played in casinos and private houses all over the world. It will also almost certainly help the boom in the game.

Chris' original bet was just $40 with an online poker room which was offering seats at the WSOP as prizes in their table games. "This means anyone in their home can become a top poker player," said Nolan Dalla, media director of the WSOP.

The final face off was between Money and Ihsan "Sam" Farha of Houston in the final round which started on Friday afternoon and went right through to Saturday. Calls of "Go Money" from his supporters helped Chris through the long hours along with his silver-surfaced skiing glasses and a beige baseball hat pulled down low over his eyes. But none of this could hide the smile of excitement and 'fear' making occasional streaks across his face.

Many of the other players, most of whom had paid $10,000 for a seat similar to the one Moneymaker won for $40, did not show the same smile. "It's a joke," said one. "He's not a real poker player, he's just gotten lucky," mused another.

Sour grapes perhaps? Who knows. But Chris freely admits he practiced almost entirely with his home computer in anonymous virtual poker halls playing hundreds or thousands of hands with small bets every day.

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