WSOP Records That Will (Probably) Never Be Broken

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Apr 16, 2025 10 min read Last updated Jul 13, 2025

In poker, like in life, they say records are meant to be broken.

But sometimes, someone sets a milestone that just feels impossible to top. Whether it’s because of insane skill, perfect timing, a bit of luck, or a mix of all three, the World Series of Poker has seen some feats over the years that seem like they’ll never be matched.

However, while all records may eventually fall, these achievements are currently some of the most jaw-dropping in WSOP history. Will any of them ever be broken? Only time will tell. For now, though, here are the most incredible WSOP records that will (probably) never be broken.

Sharks Can Be Any Age

In poker, age is just a number. Whether you're a young prodigy or a grizzled vet, the cards don't discriminate. From the youngest champions to the most experienced players at the table, here are the most impressive age-related records in WSOP history.

Who is the Youngest Ever WSOP Winner?

The record for the youngest-ever winner of a WSOP event is an interesting one, as it arguably has two answers.

In September 2007, Anette Obrestad made history by winning the 2007 WSOP Europe Main Event at just 18 years and 358 days old. While she wouldn’t have been legally eligible to compete at the WSOP in Nevada, she may be considered the youngest winner of a WSOP event of all time.

For those competing in Vegas, the title of youngest WSOP bracelet winner goes to Steve Billirakis. He captured Event #1 in 2007, becoming a bracelet winner at 21 years and 10 days old, just a week and a half after he was legally allowed to compete. A record that is almost impossible to break.

Who is the Youngest Ever WSOP Main Event Winner?

The youngest champion in World Series of Poker history is Joe Cada, who won the 2009 Main Event on November 10, 2009, at the age of 21 years and 357 days. He surpassed the previous record set by 2008 Main Event Champion Peter Eastgate, who was 22 years old when he took the title the previous year.

Who is the Oldest Ever WSOP Winner?

The oldest winner in World Series of Poker history is Farhintaj Bonyadi, who won her first and only bracelet in the 2018 $1,000 Super Seniors NLH Event at the age of 83. She and her son, Farzad Bonyadi, also made history as the first mother-son duo to win WSOP gold, with Farzad having three bracelets to his name at the time of writing.

Who is the Oldest Ever WSOP Player?

The oldest player to compete in the World Series of Poker is Eugene Calden, who participated in the 2023 WSOP Main Event at the age of 100. The centenarian was the oldest player in the massive 10,043-player field, making history as the oldest person ever to compete at the WSOP and in the Main Event no less.

Who is the Oldest Ever WSOP Main Event Winner?

The oldest Main Event champion in World Series of Poker history is Johnny Moss, who won the 1974 WSOP Main Event on May 11, 1974, at the age of 66, just days shy of his 67th birthday. His victory came after a gruelling four-hour heads-up battle with Crandell Addington.

The Grind is Real

When it comes to the World Series, any top pro will tell you that the game is as much a test of endurance as it is of skill. From marathon tournaments to record-breaking hands, the World Series of Poker has witnessed some of the longest stretches of poker action in the game's history. Here are some record endurance feats from WSOP history.

What is the Longest WSOP Event Ever Played?

The longest WSOP event ever played was the 2008 WSOPE Main Event, where John Juanda triumphed after a 22-hour final table battle. Juanda defeated Stanislav Alekhin in a marathon session that included a record 434 hands to take the crown.

What is the Longest WSOP Main Event Ever Played?

The longest-ever WSOP Main Event took place in 2018, when John Cynn defeated Tony Miles in a 10-hour, 199-hand heads-up match to claim the championship and the $8.8 million first place cheque.

What is the Longest WSOP Hand Ever Played?

While it's impossible to be certain on the longest WSOP hand ever played, as far as we can ascertain, this dubious accolade sits with Adrian Attenborough, who tanked for 19 minutes at the 2019 WSOP Main Event final table before folding J♦4♦ to eventual winner Espen Jørstad.

Cash Me If You Can

Whether it's making deep runs year after year or regularly making bank in multiple events, some players have turned the skill of regular cashes into an art form. Here, we spotlight the players who have become WSOP royalty with the most cashes, from overall performance to Main Event success.

Which Player Has the Most WSOP Cashes?

The title of most WSOP cashes goes to Daniel Negreanu, with a staggering 275 cashes, 7 bracelets, and 64 final tables. In second place is Roland Israelashvili, who has 252 cashes and ended his bracelet hoodoo with success in last year's 2024 WSOP Online $400 ‘PLOSSUS’.

WSOP All Time Cashes Top 5:

_{Info from WSOP website. Correct at time of publication.}

Which Player Has the Most WSOP Main Event Cashes?

Tied for the most WSOP Main Event cashes are two bona fide poker legends: Johnny Chan, the holder of 10 WSOP bracelets, and Allen Cunningham, a 5-time bracelet winner. Both players have each cashed 11 times in the Main Event.

Who Has the Most WSOP Cashes in a Single Year?

Ryan Riess holds the record for the most WSOP cashes in a single year, with an incredible 49 cashes in 2024. This feat tops the second-highest total, Yueqi Zhu’s 45 cashes in 2023. On the women's side, Michelle Shah set the record in the 2020 online series with 21 cashes, a standout achievement in the female category.

Which Player Has the Most WSOP Earnings?

Daniel Negreanu leads the way with an eye-watering $22,204,352 in total WSOP earnings from 275 cashes. Antonio Esfandiari follows closely with $21,917,218, while Phil Hellmuth comes in third with $18,193,001.

WSOP All Time Earnings Top 5:

_{Info from WSOP website. Correct at time of publication.}

Which Player Has the Most WSOP Main Event Earnings?

Daniel Weinman holds the record for the most WSOP Main Event earnings, thanks to his massive $12,100,000 cash prize for winning the 2023 Main Event, setting a new benchmark for Main Event earnings.

Stars, Stripes & Bracelets

Every poker player dreams of hearing their country’s anthem as they receive their WSOP bracelet, but there’s one country that really stands out in terms of records: the United States. With more bracelets and earnings than any other nation, America has been the dominant force in the World Series of Poker for years.

Which Country Has the Most WSOP Bracelets?

The United States leads the pack with an incredible 1,736 WSOP bracelets, far outpacing the rest of the world. In second place is Canada, with a distant 103 bracelets.

To put that into perspective, U.S. players’ total WSOP earnings could buy about 8.6 billion McDonald's Big Macs, enough to treat everyone on Earth to a free dinner, with plenty of leftovers.

Which Country Has the Most WSOP Cashes?

The United States leads the way again with an impressive 502,221 cashes, while Canada holds second place with 36,583. For you stats geeks out there, that means that, on average, US players have roughly earned around $8,500 per cash throughout the history of the WSOP.

Family Fortunes

Many top poker players got their start learning the game from family, be it a parent, grandparent, brother, sister. In this section, we look at some of the most successful family pairs in WSOP history, from siblings to parent-child duos, showing how talent can often be found in the genes.

Which Siblings Are the Most Successful in WSOP History?

The Mizrachi brothers, Michael Mizrachi (6 bracelets) and Robert Mizrachi (5 bracelets), top the list with a combined total of 11 WSOP bracelets. There is a third Mizrachi brother whose names is Eric — he currently owns 0 WSOP bracelets.

They are followed by Puggy Pearson and J.C. Pearson, who have a combined total of 5 bracelets, securing their place as the second most successful sibling pair in WSOP history.

Which Parent-Child Pairs Are the Most Successful in WSOP History?

Doyle Brunson and Todd Brunson lead the way with an impressive total of 11 WSOP bracelets between them, with Texas Dolly doing the heavy lifting there with his 10 titles.

Farhintaj Bonyadi and Farzad Bonyadi follow with a combined five bracelets, making them the most successful mother-son duo in WSOP history. Interestingly, they are also the only mother-child pair to have achieved such success in the WSOP's history.

Bracelets Never Go Out of Fashion

At the WSOP, every player is after one thing: a bracelet. Whether earned through one win or multiple, each bracelet marks a significant achievement. This section looks at the players who have won the most bracelets and those few who have remained successful over multiple decades.

Which Player has Captured the Most WSOP Bracelets?

Love him or hate him, Phil Hellmuth’s record of 17 WSOP bracelets is impossible to overlook. The "Poker Brat" sits comfortably at the top of the all-time list, and given how difficult it is to win just one, it’s hard to imagine anyone topping his remarkable achievement anytime soon.

WSOP All Time Bracelets Top 5:

_{Info from WSOP website. Correct at time of publication.}

Which Player Has Won WSOP Bracelets Across the Most Decades?

As if 17 bracelets weren't impressive enough, Phil Hellmuth has captured titles in the 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, and 2020s, making him the only player to secure WSOP bracelets across five different decades.

What is the Record for Most WSOP Bracelets Won in a Single Year?

Seven players have won three WSOP bracelets in a single year. Notably, both Ted Forrest and Phil Hellmuth achieved this in 1993, despite there being only 21 events that year. Here’s a breakdown of the players who have done it:

• Ted Forrest (1993)
• Phil Hellmuth (1993)
• Phil Ivey (2002)
• Jeff Lisandro (2009)
• George Danzer (2014)
• Scott Seiver (2024)

Could 2025 be the year we see a player finally achieve the mythical quadruple?

_{All records are correct in April 2025 at the time of publication.}

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Eliot Thomas is an Editor at PokerNews, specializing in casino and poker coverage. He has reported on major events around the world, including the World Series of Poker, European Poker Tour, and Triton Super High Roller Series.

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