The hero of the 2003 World Series of Poker Main Event recently achieved a meaningful victory on his own “home turf,” by winning the $300 Mixed Omaha event at the Moneymaker Tour stop at MGM National Harbor.
Chris Moneymaker has been one of the most recognizable faces in the poker world for over two decades, largely thanks to his historic win at the world’s most prestigious poker tournament in 2003.
From being an ordinary accountant, Moneymaker turned an $86 satellite entry into a championship gold bracelet and a $2,500,000 prize, sparking what came to be known as the “Moneymaker Effect” — a powerful wave that drew countless new players to the game during the poker boom of the early 2000s.
Moneymaker was honored with induction into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2019, and by 2023, a poker tour bearing his name officially launched. The Moneymaker Tour has since held many successful festivals across the United States and even in Aruba.
The latest stop on the tour took place from April 21 to 28 at MGM National Harbor in Maryland. While several champions emerged from side events, Moneymaker’s victory in the $300 Mixed Omaha event became the highlight.
The tournament drew 71 entries, generating a prize pool of $17,750. The top nine players earned payouts, and Moneymaker claimed the title and $5,195 after a three-way deal. This marked his first win on the tour named after him, although it wasn't his first time cashing in a Moneymaker Tour event. Previously, he reached six final tables and earned payouts in four additional events, with his best results being two third-place finishes.
The 49-year-old now has over $8 million in total poker earnings, with four of his five largest career payouts coming in the past two years. While this latest win doesn’t rank among his top 50 earnings, it remains a memorable milestone.
However, perhaps due to the modest prize money (~$5,000), some online commenters sarcastically remarked, “World Champion wins $5,000 and gets congratulated.” Regardless, Moneymaker is still regarded as a legend — and truthfully, not many players have an entire tour named after them.
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