Chris Moneymaker

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**Chris Moneymaker**

Nickname(s)	None
Hometown	Tennessee
World Series of Poker
Bracelet(s)	1
Money finishes	3
Highest ITM main event finish	Winner, 2003
World Poker Tour
Titles	None
Final tables	1
Money Finishes	2

Christopher Bryan Moneymaker (born November 21, 1975 in Atlanta, Georgia) is an American poker player who won the main event at the 2003 World Series of Poker (WSOP).^[1]

Moneymaker attended Farragut High School in Farragut, Tennessee and later earned a masters degree in accounting from the University of Tennessee. He was working as an accountant in Tennessee when he won a seat into the main event of the 2003 WSOP through a US$39 satellite tournament at the PokerStars online poker card room. He went on to win the first prize of $2.5 million, instantly garnering poker superstar status. It was his first live poker tournament.

Moneymaker's most memorable hand came heads-up against Sam Farha, when on the river he bluffed all-in with King high. Farha folded a pair of nines, quickly changing the momentum of the match. Moneymaker eventually won the WSOP when his 5♦ 4♠ beat Farha's J♥ 10♦ on a board of J♠ 5♠ 4♣ 8♠ 5♥, giving Moneymaker a full house. Farha did, however, win a rematch on Pokerstars a month later.

Moneymaker has since played on the World Poker Tour, finishing second at the Shooting Stars event, earning $200,000.

After winning the WSOP, he quit his job to serve as a celebrity spokesman for Series owner Harrah's Entertainment as well as PokerStars. He also began traveling to play in more large buy-in tournaments.

Moneymaker is married and has a daughter named Ashley, born 3 months before his WSOP win. His autobiography, Moneymaker: How an Amateur Poker Player Turned $40 into $2.5 Million at the World Series of Poker was published in March 2005 (ISBN 0-06-076001-X).

Moneymaker can be heard Thursdays on Playboy Radio's Morning Show on Sirius Satellite Radio.