Since 1970, the World Series of Poker has hosted the Main Event annually. No matter how many WSOP bracelets are added each year, there's only one Main Event, so it's highly contested. Anyone who performs consistently in it must battle variance and a massive field, which reached 10,112 players this year.
Consistency isn't something we expect from players in the Main, but as you'll see, it happens.
10. Howard Andrew "Tahoe"
Not many players can expect to match this streak.
From 1974 to 2018, Howard Andrew made 45 consecutive Main Event appearances. His persistence paid off with four cashes, most notably an eighth-place finish in 1984, earning him $26,400 (equivalent to around $80,000 today). Andrew's commitment to the tournament over four decades demonstrates a lasting passion for the game, but also, his ability to stay healthy and competitive.
After starting at the age of 21, Howard played the game for over six decades. Another of his streaks involved his two gold WSOP bracelets, which he collected on back-to-back days.
Sadly, Howard passed in 2021, making his last WSOP cash in 2020 (74th place in a No-Limit Holdem event for $566).
9. Ronnie Bardah
Ronnie was quite unsuccessful in Survivor, not even reaching episode 2, but his Main Event streak went much smoother.
Bardah cashed in an impressive five consecutive Main Events from 2010 to 2014. The best performance came in 2010 when he finished 24th, earning an impressive $317,161. This streak highlights Bardah's ability to navigate large fields and maintain a high level of play year after year, solidifying his reputation as a formidable tournament player.
His total live earnings surpass $2 million and this year, he cashed in 7 WSOP events, including 2 online tournaments for bracelets. His best finish of the 2024 WSOP was 7th in a $10,000 No Limit Holdem event, but he didn't cash in the Main Event.
8. Liv Boeree and Melanie Weisner
From 2016 to 2018, Liv Boeree and Melanie Weisner cashed in three consecutive World Series of Poker. While they aren't final table finishes, cashing in three consecutive Mains is not a small feat, considering the field's size.
Here's how each player did in those three years.
| Year | Liv Boeree | Melanie Weisner |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | $22,648 for 528th place | $49,108 for 127th place |
| 2017 | $35,267 for 314th place | $35,267 for 309th place |
| 2018 | $33,305 for 379th place | $18,340 for 780th place |
For Melanie, her 2016 Main Event cash was the second-largest of her career, but Liv's was much larger. For winning the 2010 European Poker Tour, Liv Boeree scored around $1.7 million.
Both players are still active and cashed in the 2024 World Series of Poker, but neither have cashed in a Main Event since 2018.
Live Boeree was sponsored by PokerStars, but Wiesner seems to be the more successful online player. She put in some serious time on Stars under the screenname Callisto 5, mostly playing turbo MTTs.
7. Jesse Alto
This incredible run of three consecutive Main Event final tables from 1984 to 1986 is a feat that remains unmatched.
Jesse Alto's performances, including a third-place finish in 1984, sixth in 1985, and fourth in 1986, demonstrate remarkable consistency against a massive field of players.
The 1984 3rd-place finish made Jesse $132,000 and would be his largest-ever cash. In total, Jesse made 7 final tables in the Main Event, (1974, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1984, 1985, and 1986). This record cemented him as one of the most successful Main Event players of his era, showcasing his ability to excel in varying field sizes over a decade.
By the end of his poker career, Alto's live earnings sat around $460,000.
6. Dan Harrington
Finishing third in 2003 and fourth in 2004, Harrington navigated through Main Event fields of 839 and 2,576 players respectively, earning a combined $2,150,000. Back-to-back deep runs in the 2003 and 2004 Main Events are noteworthy due to the rapidly expanding field sizes.
Funnily enough, his 2004 payout exceeded his 1995 Main Event 1st-place prize, highlighting the tournament's explosive growth.
Harrington's exceptional skill in adapting to the changing poker landscape is unsurprising. As the author of several poker books, his mastery of the game wasn't in question.
Dan has amassed live earnings of over $6.65 million in his career, with his largest recent win of $1.6 million in the 2007 WPT.
5. Mark Newhouse
Mark Newhouse's consecutive ninth-place finishes in the 2013 and 2014 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Events stand as a testament to both his exceptional skill and the unforgiving nature of tournament poker. This statistical anomaly showcases the razor-thin margins between triumph and heartbreak in high-stakes poker.
Outlasting over 6,000 players in back-to-back years to reach the final table is a feat that defies the odds and demonstrates Newhouse's consistent excellence. His ability to navigate through massive fields and make deep runs in poker's most prestigious tournament is truly remarkable.
Despite his incredible performances, Newhouse experienced the agony of bubbling the official final table twice in a row. With nearly identical payouts just shy of $750,000 each time, his story underscores the fine line between glory and disappointment in the poker world.
4. Greg Raymer
Greg Raymer's follow-up performance to his 2004 Main Event victory is a shining example of his consistency and skill in large-field tournaments.
Raymer conquered a field of 2,576 players to claim a staggering $5 million payday, etching his name in poker history. The final hand saw David Williams calling Raymer with a smaller full house when Greg held an overpair.
The following year, Raymer silenced any doubters by finishing 25th out of 5,619 entrants, earning an additional $304,680. This back-to-back deep run in increasingly large fields solidified Raymer's reputation as one of the top tournament players of his era.
3. Doyle Brunson
Doyle Brunson's back-to-back Main Event victories in 1976 and 1977 marked the beginning of his legendary status in poker and contributed significantly to his nickname "The Godfather of Poker".
Although the fields were microscopically small by today's standards (22 and 34 players respectively), winning consecutive titles against the era's top professionals was a remarkable feat.
Brunson's wins helped establish him as one of poker's most formidable players and laid the foundation for his legacy. After passing in 2023, "The Godfather of Poker" managed to influence players across different generations and was a beloved icon in the community.
2. Stu Ungar
Stu Ungar's three Main Event victories, including back-to-back wins in 1980 and 1981, showcase his extraordinary talent and dominance in tournament poker.
Ungar defeated fields of 73 and 75 players in his first two wins, facing tougher competition than in earlier years of the WSOP.
His 1997 victory, coming 16 years later against a much larger field of 312 players, cements Ungar's legacy as one of the greatest poker players of all time. This win demonstrated his ability to adapt and excel across different eras of the game, solidifying his place in poker history.
Despite his untimely death in 1998, Ungar is still regarded by many as one of the greatest poker players of all time, with his aggressive playing style and ability to read opponents continuing to influence modern players. His dominance also extended to gin, where he became a strong and profitable opponent.
To read firsthand stories about Stu, check the article below:
1. Johnny Chan
Johnny Chan's remarkable streak of reaching heads-up play in three consecutive Main Events from 1987 to 1989 is a testament to his skill, consistency, and mental fortitude.
Chan emerged victorious in 1987 and 1988, conquering fields of 152 and 167 players respectively.
In 1989, Chan came agonizingly close to an unprecedented three-peat. His runner-up finish to Phil Hellmuth in a field of 178 players not only showcases Chan's dominance during this period but also marks the emergence of a new poker superstar in Hellmuth.
Chan's incredible run solidified his status as one of poker's all-time greats and set a standard of excellence that few have matched in the decades since. poker superstar in Hellmuth.
