Taped during the start of the 2010 WSOP Main Event, Chris Moneymaker joins us for an interview at the PokerStars cocktail reception.
Chris Moneymaker is credited with being the catalyst for the “poker boom” during the previous decade, as his rise from unknown accountant from Tennessee to World Champion of the WSOP Main Event is well documented. The fact that an everyday guy was able to get into the Main Event for only a few dollars and win “the big one” for over $2.5 million dollars against the world’s best inspired countless people to take up the game.
Moneymaker joins us after his successful Day 1 of the Main Event, where he was able to chip up and stay alive to head into Day 2. During this interview he candidly discusses his strategy on Day 1 and how he’s had to adapt in this new era of poker. He also admits that he folded pocket Aces pre-flop which he considers something you have to do to survive a Day 1.
At the PokerStars cocktail reception, he also talks about the new additions to the Team PokerStars PRO team in Vanessa Selbst and David Williams. He admits the entire roster of PokerStars members are close, most specifically the older members who have been around for a while. He talks about the expanding roster and how it’s not really possible to know everyone very well, but that the team sticks together and that it’s always good to catch up with the fellow Main Event winners, such as Greg Raymer and Joe Hachem.
The WSOP Main Event is not the only big tournament that Moneymaker has done well in. In 2004, he finished second at the 2004 Shooting Stars event for a $200,000 payday. Online in 2008 he finished in sixth place of Event 5 of the WCOOP for $139,000 and also finished fifth in Event 16 of the PLO Rebuy event for $28,000. He also has a World Poker tour final table finish to his poker resume and as of 2010 his estimated live tournament earnings exceed $3 million.
