“39” is just a number for most of us. However, for some like Chris Moneymaker who is a master’s degree in accounting, it was one lucky number. It made his $39 investment into a whopping $2.5 million…

Chris walked into a sea of people in the 2003 World Series of Poker at Binion’s horseshoe with a mindset of “nothing to lose and more to gain.” This was his first live poker tournament. And Chris has carefully remembered what he had learned all these years playing poker.

He fondly recalled all those sleepless nights and the movie “rounders” which got him hooked up playing poker. He remembered his first online poker game, when a friend introduced him after seeing Chris wanting to enhance his skills but had to drive a four-hour trip to go to the nearest casino.
This wasn’t luck; this was all Chris’ hard work—a summation of everything that he had hoped for.

Then he remembered his wife, worrying about her maternity leave, then all his mortgages. His father and a closed friend who had helped him pay his travel expenses. Then all those worries, doubts and uncertainties slowly disappeared and were replaced with hope, determination and optimism.
Moneymaker an amateur poker player went as far as the final round of the WSOP. The virtually unknown Chris went against high profile poker stars such as Sam Farha, WSOP 1995 champion Dan Harrington, Chris Ferguson (WSOP 2000 champion) and a lot more. Chris’ winning hand came after, he got a five and four card that beat Farha’s Jack and a ten in the championship round. When the dealer flopped, he was ahead by two pairs J-5-4. And when the river came Chris’ heart pumped faster after it flopped with an eight and a five. “Full house” as Moneymaker pumped his fist in the air while giving his father a bear hug.

This was a fairy tale story that somehow ended with David conquering more Goliaths in one battlefield. Nobody in the history of the game that made Poker such a global entity than Chris Moneymaker, his story is not about luck; it is all about hope. Everyone is always capable of getting to the top…

I have worked as a Tournament online poker admin to most popular poker sites before, and it never failed to amaze me on the number of players playing the $39 satellite tournament.

For some 39 is just a number… but for most online poker addicts, it symbolizes hope.

Related Blogs

• Tweet