Who is the most incredible champion in WSOP Main Event history?

Looking back at the most surprising and least surprising champions in WSOP Main Event history, from Stu Ungar's comeback to Jerry Yang's dark horse rise, who is the true legend?

The most unsurprising yet also the most surprising champion in the history of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event can be said to be the same person.

Confused? You'll understand soon enough. The most prestigious annual poker tournament, culminating in the crowning of the 2026 World Champion, officially kicks off today in Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas. Michael Mizrachi, the latest inductee into the Poker Hall of Fame, won this $10,000 buy-in tournament last summer, taking home $10,000,000.

"The Grinder's" victory has generated some excitement in the poker community, but it's not as shocking as some past champions. Mizrachi wasn't unknown before winning the Main Event. He wasn't an accountant who qualified through cheap online satellite tournaments, nor was he a random amateur low-stakes cash game player.

The most surprising and least surprising WSOP Main Event champion in history?

Like Doyle Brunson, Johnny Chan, and Stu Ungar, Mizrachi was already a superstar before winning the Main Event. Brunson, who won in 1976 and 1977, was one of the most feared players of the 1970s. Chan was a 10-time bracelet winner who nearly won the Main Event three years in a row. Ungar won two titles in the 1980s and was considered the best poker player in the world at the time.

But Ungar, though it might sound strange, is certainly arguably the most incredible champion in WSOP Main Event history. "Stuey" won again in 1997, 16 years after his back-to-back victories in 1980 and 1981. He was only 43 years old then, young enough by most standards to dominate the game for years to come.

However, Ungar was no longer the player he was in 1981. Due to drug and alcohol addiction and other personal issues, he was well past his prime. No one thought he had any chance in the 1997 World Series of Poker, and he even needed help to raise the $10,000 buy-in.

However, in a few days, in a way, the Stuey of yesteryear reappeared at Binion's, beating the world's best players just like he did in his 20s and 30s. Gabe Kaplan, Ungar's friend and then-ESPN poker commentator, asked him a question more important than poker in a post-match interview.

"You won the championship in 1980 and 1981. But you weren't smart after that. Your life wasn't on the right track. Now you're older, smarter, you're 43. Do you think you would do things differently now?" Kaplan asked the three-time WSOP Main Event champion.

"Yes, I hope so, Gabe," Ungar replied hesitantly. "I've neglected my child. I've done so many foolish things."

Ungar defeated John Strzemp heads-up to win the gold bracelet and a $1 million prize, a victory that earned him the nickname "The Comeback Kid." This was his last tournament win. The poker and Kim Rummy legend was found dead in a Las Vegas hotel room 16 months later. An autopsy revealed drug residue in his system, but not enough to cause death. His cause of death was determined to be heart disease.

Who else is qualified?

If Ungar isn't the most incredible champion in history, that title likely belongs to some of the champions of the 2000s. Chris Moneymaker, an amateur poker player, became one of the first recreational players to win the Main Event in 2003 as an accountant, taking home $2.5 million. This victory helped spark a huge poker craze.

Joe Cada was in his early 20s when he won the title in 2009, while Jamie Gold shocked the world in 2006 by beating what was then the largest field of entries—8,773—to win $12 million. But Jerry Yang is arguably more deserving of the title of the most incredible champion.

Yang had a run of good luck in the 2007 Main Event, making several comebacks and winning many crucial hands. He won the tournament with $8,250,000, but his previous live tournament winnings were only around $10,000. In the 19 years following his amazing championship run, Yang's winnings barely exceeded $300,000, and he now plays poker much less.

Other incredible champions include Greg Merson, a highly skilled professional who became world champion in 2012, just months after embarking on his journey to sobriety. Robert Varkonyi, the 2002 champion, was one of the few amateurs to win this most prestigious poker tournament at the time.

Who will win the 2026 WSOP Main Event? Will it be another legend like Mizrachi? Or another Jerry Yang? We'll find out on August 5th.

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