So who are they?

As in, who are my favorite pro players?

The question came up at another site I frequent, and I have to tell you, my list is quite long. There are probably 7-10 pros that I love watching play, and in my own way, try to take some of their game, and move it into mine.

In no particular order:

Daniel Negreanu

This is a guy that is so much fun to watch, because, as Norman Chad on ESPN put it, "you get to see the artist at work, in full view." I love how he talks through the hand, and is able to come up with the right answer mroe often than not. You rarely see him playing small stack poker on TV, because he is not sitting behind the small stack.

Marcel Luske

The Flying Dutchman is right up there as one of my all time favorites, and that is because we actually chatted over drinks for about 3 hours at the Rio during the 2005 WSOP. The story can be found here. Scroll down to the story.

Doyle Brunson

The ageless wonder continues to play well, and he has 10 WSOP bracelets. Only Johnny Chan and Phil Hellmuth have that many--no one has more. He is the Godfather of the game (Johnny Moss is likely considered the Father), and a living legend that has been gracious when meeting fans, and always shows how it should be done--after scooping a pot, or taking a bad beat.

Mike Matusow

The Mouth is, in my opinion, one of the most under-rated and under-appreciated players out there. He does blow up, but when he is on stroke, he's as good as anyone out there. His FT at the Main Event in 2005, followed by his Tournament of Champions win netted him $2 million in his pocket. Mike has problems, but when he's is right, he's among the best in the game.

Phil Ivey

The owl of poker--watch his eyes when he plays. Always studying, always soaking up information. The guy is a machine, and always a threat in any game he sits in. Scary in his reads (usually reads his opponents the right way, then acts accordingly), steely in his gaze.

Phil Hellmuth

The Poker Brat. The self-proclaimed greatest hold 'em player of all time. All 10 of his bracelets are in hold 'em, which lends some credibility to his claim of all time greatest. I think he needs to have the word tournament in there, as his cash game results (at least the TV ones), have been lacking. Still, this guy's ability to read players is frightening. His tantrums are classic, but half the time, he's got the right idea--he just communicates in such a way that turns people off. I like him.

Allen Cunningham

Mad game. Sick. His recent WSOP successes make him more of a hosuehold name these days, but other players in the game speak so highly of him, it's almost weird because, if they don't speak his name, you might not know him at all. Quiet as a church mouse at the table, but a viper in a hand. Consumate pro.

There are others, and I won't continue with this because it is late, but suffice to say, these are players that have mad game, with other variables that put them in the elite. To join them, or even be mentioned in the same breath would be wonderful.

One day, I hope.