Moneymaker has compiled more than $8 million in live tournament earnings with his latest win
Chris Moneymaker added another personal milestone to his long poker résumé by winning an event on his own tour. Yesterday, the Poker Hall of Famer claimed victory in a $300 mixed Omaha tournament during the ongoing Moneymaker Tour stop at MGM National Harbor in Maryland.
The tournament brought in 71 entries, building a prize pool of $17,750. Moneymaker secured the top spot through a three-way deal, earning $5,195. While it wasn’t the largest payout of his career, the win held special significance—marking his first tournament victory on a tour that carries his name.
Best known for triggering the poker boom with his 2003 World Series of Poker Main Event win, Moneymaker turned an $86 online satellite into $2.5 million and a gold bracelet. His unexpected triumph made poker more accessible, encouraging thousands of recreational players to give the game a shot. That “Moneymaker Effect” still echoes across the industry today.
But how? 😂 Congrats @CMONEYMAKER on winning your first @MoneymakerTour trophy! https://t.co/hqDvdyPPpa
— Tony Burns (@MMTonyB) April 23, 2025
Since then, Moneymaker has remained a fixture on the circuit and was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2019. In 2023, he launched the Moneymaker Tour, a poker series that has traveled across the US and made international stops, including a visit to Aruba. Although he has reached several final tables on the tour before—six to be exact—and collected a number of other cashes, this marks the first time he’s claimed the title.
Now 49 years old, Moneymaker has compiled more than $8 million in live tournament earnings. Remarkably, four of his five biggest scores have come in the last two years, showing his longevity and ability to compete at a high level.
Tony Burns, Executive Manager of the Moneymaker Tour, shared his congratulations publicly, underscoring what the moment meant for the tour and the poker legend himself.
