Poker Strategy 4 Poker Stories From 2023 We’re Still Thinking About URL has been copied successfully! Poker players who have been around for the dozen or so years since the infamous Black Friday in 2011 have had front-row seats to the evolution of the game, particularly in the media. Once vilified and left to the “degenerates,” poker’s recent growth has showcased the resilience of the industry – evidenced by YouTube searches for the word “poker” hitting a 5-year high this past year. With that in mind, here are 4 recent stories that captivated the poker world and still live rent-free in my head a month into the new year.Doyle Brunson Joins The Big Game AboveWidely considered to be the father of modern-day poker, Doyle Brunson has impacted the game in ways no other player has. His classic poker book Super System continues to be a top-seller some 45 years after it was released and his presence in a poker game remained a marquee event right until the end of his time here. Some of my earliest memories of being a poker fan were watching Doyle play in the WSOP and while there was a lot of mourning to do after his passing, there was much celebration too, for all that he did for the game, and the incredible charisma he did it with the entire way. Here’s to the legacy of an all-time poker legend whose writings and videos will no doubt continue to inspire poker players for generations to come. Hellmuth Binks Another Bracelet (In Their Face!)Say what you will about the antics of “The Poker Brat,” but when it comes to poker accomplishments, there is no doubt that Phil Hellmuth is one of the greatest to ever play the game. Not only does he now stand 7 bracelets ahead of his closest WSOP competitors, a gap that may very well never be closed, but he continues adding to his total even as the keyboard warriors continue to assert that the game has passed him by. Say what you will about Mr. Hellmuth’s antics, but there is little doubt that without him the poker world would be far less entertaining!Dan “Jungleman” Cates Makes Neurodivergency CoolWhether it’s spending most of his Game Of Gold airtime unconscious or showing up to the biggest poker events in the world in outfits that would make Tim Burton proud, Jungleman – whose experience with autism was detailed in a Washington Post article (apologies for the paywall, blame greedy Jeff Bezos!) – proved to the poker world that embracing your neurodiversity and doing things your own way is really the only way to play the game. Poker Programming Hits The NutsThe digital realm of poker reached new heights in 2023 as YouTube searches for “poker” soared. This surge was no doubt fueled in part by the incredible rise of poker players such as Ethan “Rampage” Yau and Mariano Grandoli. Their documented journeys from the lowest stakes possible to the biggest games in the world captivated the attention and imagination of untold poker players.Conversely, Nik “Airball” Arcott’s story served as a reality check, underscoring that a hefty bankroll alone doesn’t guarantee success at the tables; though it does make for incredible poker entertainment. The continued growth of high-stake streams on YouTube further catalyzed this interest, something that no doubt contributed to the World Series of Poker Main Event breaking attendance records in 2023. Here’s to hoping poker content in 2024 continues to push the envelope and keep us glued to our seats.What an exciting time to be alive!