The days after the end of the WSOP Main Event are usually dedicated to the winner and their terrific achievement to top a field of several thousand people, to reach the final table, and to endure all the pressure that playing that final stage of the tournament involves.
This year, Scott Blumstein remained the last man standing in the WSOP Main Event, scooping the World Champion’s gold bracelet and a $8.15-million first-place prize. The player, who is less active on the live poker scene and more so online, topped a field of 7,221 tournament entries.
There are, however, two other players who deserve a bit more attention this week, as they celebrated their birthdays mere days ago. And they are both generally recognized as two of the world’s best poker professionals.
Germany’s Fedor Holz, whom we all know for his terrific accomplishments in different high roller tournaments, turned 24 on July 25. And at the age of 24, the player has built quite a poker career. He currently tops Germany’s all-time money list with live tournament earnings of more than $23.3 million.
Holz has won some of the world’s highest buy-in tournaments to have taken place over the past several years in different parts of the world. The player has said in a recent interview for Forbes that he took around 400 flights in 2015-2016, traveling around the world and conquering new poker heights.
A quick look at the player’s HendonMob profile shows that his latest three in-the-money finishes were all first places in high roller tournaments. Holz makes winning six- and seven-figure payout look like a child’s play, he has scooped so many of them. However, his biggest live tournament accomplishment remains his triumph in the 2016 WSOP $111,111 High Roller for ONE DROP, for which he won the hefty amount of $4,981,775.
With live tournament earnings of $34,093,588, Daniel Negreanu is live poker’s most profitable player of all time. The Canadian poker pro celebrated his 43rd birthday on July 26.
Negreanu is one of the most accomplished tournament players in history, boasting multiple titles and in-the-money finishes. For instance, he has 6 WSOP gold bracelet and has been a constant presence in the Series for years now.
Aside from his indisputable poker skills, Negreanu is also well-recognized in the global poker community as one of its brightest characters and most popular and active ambassadors. His open-mindedness and courage to voice his opinion frankly have gained him the respect of both fellow players and poker fans.
We wish the two players a happy belated birthday and all the best both on and beyond the felt!
