Chip Jett and Chris Moneymaker share the odd honor of having the coolest poker names ever. Jett, who was actually christened Charles, was given his nickname by a nurse in the hospital where he was born. Jett is easily recognized by his slick style and looks, and once on the table he has a solid reputation as a fearless player who is constantly improving his already fearsome game.
Born in Scottsdale, Arizona, Jett started out as a lifeguard before discovering poker at age 18. After realizing that poker was more financially rewarding than swimming, he went to dealing school and started a casino career, first as a dealer and then as a prop player. But this was not enough for Jett, who soon started hungering for the big play. He made his first big splash at 27 by winning the Best All-Around Player award at the 2001 L.A. Poker Classic, after making final tables in No Limit Hold’em, Seven-Card Stud Hi and Hi-Lo, Omaha Hi-Lo and H.O.R.S.E.
A feared and respected tournament player, Jett has not yet won a WSOP bracelet, and does not seem to need one to impress. His tournament successes include finishing second in the World Poker Tour (WPT) Party Poker Million event in 2003, as well as making two WSOP final tables and another WPT final table in the Legends of Poker event on that same year. A rounded player, he has reached final tables in at least six different games including Razz, 7 card stud and SHOE, and made over $2,000,000 in tournaments; but in Jett’s eyes his biggest achievements are winning that Best All-Around Player award at the Commerce Casino (at the 2001 Los Angeles Poker Classic) and being on the cover of Poker Digest.
Jett is married to poker professional Karina Jett, and they travel the tourney circuit together (sometimes up to 300 tourneys a year) and also write a joint column for Card Player magazine. Their children Apollo and Athena have a lot to live up to, not only because of their godly names but because of their very talented and successful parents.
