Whenever you watch golf on TV, and in particular during the grand slam events, you hear the commentators refer to some player with this line, "he might be the best player in the game today who hasn't won a major". Phil Mickelson had this label undisputed for a few years. Let's look at a few poker greats you could say the same about in their game.
We know what a major is in golf. What is considered a major in poker? The general consensus is that any event with over $5,000 entry fee, and over 100 players will be considered a major event. With that in mind let's see who can be called "the best never to have won a major in poker".
Number three on our list is Patrik Antonius. Perhaps the biggest reason that Patrick is stuck on this list is that he, like some others, is much more of a cash game player. But, with over $2 million in tournament, and some close calls in big events, he is no slouch in tournament poker.
One of his closest calls in a major event was a 3rd place finish in the $10,000 pot-limit omaha World Championship WSOP event. Patrik can be seen playing the biggest cash games both live, and online.
Our number two player is Todd Brunson. Yes Todd's father is none other that Doyle "Texas Dolly" Brunson himself. Like Antonius, Todd is a cash game expert. It is said that Todd won over $13.5 million in two days of poker. It was a heads-up $50,000-$100,000 limit holdem match, which was referred to in the book The Professor, The Banker, And The Suicide King.
He has captured a WSOP bracelet, but that event had only a $2,500 buy in. He has amassed over $3 million in total tournament earnings. He is considered one of the best. If he plays more major tournaments, he is bound to get this monkey off his back. He wins so much money in cash games he might not ever play enough tournaments to change this label.
The number one choice for best player that has never won a major event is David "the dragon" Pham. He has won an incredible $7.6 million plus in tournament poker. He is a true tournament pro, playing a high volume of tournament poker.
The dragon has won 2 WSOP events, 29 overall, and has cashed in well over 150 events. 2007 was a huge year for David, with four wins and over $1.8 million in earnings. How is it possible that he hasn't won a major level tournament?
David has been playing a lot of big tournaments for years. This makes it even more surprising that he hasn't cracked a win in a major event. Being more of a tournament pro, it seems only a matter of time before he can claim a victory in a major poker event.
Winning big events has never been easy. Obviously, the best players show up when there is big money on the line. As poker has become very popular, these events have grown in size.
When you have more players, it is harder to win. This is why the best players in the world don't win all the WSOP events. When you have to beat a thousand plus players, no one has that great of a chance. While poker is a game of skill, in the short run of one tournament, luck plays a huge role.
