Chris Moneymaker

Chris Moneymaker is a professional poker player who gained fame after winning the 2003 World Series of Poker Main Event. His victory was extraordinary because he qualified for the tournament by winning an online satellite tournament for a small buy-in, rather than through high-stakes cash games or large buy-ins. Moneymaker's win helped popularize online poker and sparked a global surge in poker's popularity, as it demonstrated that an amateur, with skill and a bit of luck, could achieve poker's biggest prize. His story is often cited as a classic example of how determination and opportunity can lead to extraordinary success.