The 2003 WSOP Main Event winner Chris Moneymaker just cannot be kept quiet. For over two decades, the 2003 world champion has had a huge bearing on the present and future of poker. In 2024, he’s still earning a superb crust as a tournament professional, with the latest title for the Americas Cardroom Pro coming in South America.

The International Pull of Moneymaker

Heading to the Punta del Este venue in Uruguay, Chris Moneymaker wasn’t just representing Americas Cardroom as perhaps the great poker ambassador ever seen. He was bringing in South American poker players like never before. By the time the festival concludes this week, tens of thousands of players will have put up hundreds of thousands of dollars. In pursuit of poker glory? Sure. But they also have a common goal in aspiring to be the next Chris Moneymaker.

Moneymaker’s unique pull for poker fans and players of recreational level is legendary. Not only a superb world champion, but Moneymaker’s reliability in later years has also

been phenomenal. Some poker ambassadors do their best work when they’re young and hungry, and as such once they’re signed to a big name, they don’t quite have that magical quality that fans fell in love with in the first place.

While Moneymaker naturally achieved his poker ambition in that first magical WSOP journey, he’s followed up on it in the years since – and how. In the last 21 years, Moneymaker has added another 13 ranking titles – unlucky for his opponents. These have included lower-level buy-ins but have also featured some eye-watering buy-ins too, and as recently as earlier this year, when he won the $25,000-entry Triton Poker Series Super High Roller for $903,000.

Alache Leads Last Eight

Heading into the latter stages, Chilean player Oscar Alache led the final table players with 3,575,000 chips from the Argentinian player Gaspar Fernandez (3,395,000). Chris Moneymaker (2,910,000) and Gonzalo José (2,860,000) were close in pursuit with Julio Belluscio (2,790,000), while Pablo Andreu (1,865,000), Marcelo Caceres (1,435,000) and Uruguayan home hope Francisco Benitez (970,000).

With the Enjoy Poker Tour Main Event bringing in 657 total entries in Punta del Este, only the top 83 finishers won profit, as Argentina scored four of the final table. They lost two off the bat, however, as Pablo Andreu (8^th for $23,930) and Marcelo Caceres (7^th for $30,050) both crashed out. With six players remaining, Moneymaker turned a straight to move into second spot, before taking out another Argentinian, Bartolo Belluscio, in sixth place for a result worth $36,260.

Incredibly, yet another Argentinian player went out next as all four players from the country exited in the first four positions of the final table to depart. Gaspar Fernandez was all-in next with ace-deuce, but ran into Moneymaker’s ace-jack, which held to take out Fernandez in fifth place for $45,315.

Poker Boomer Strikes Gold Again

The final table chip leader Alache was next to go, leaving in fourth place for $59,125. He was committed with ace-king but although he led Francisco Benitez’ queen-ten, the at-risk Alache couldn’t survive the runout, as the flop paired both Benitez’ queen and his ten. Amazingly, Alache had time to turn the Broadway straight to leave himself a brick from the double-up, but another ten on the river gave Benitez a full house and sent Alache home just outside the podium places.

Two Uruguayans suddenly found themselves in with a chance of winning the title. Moneymake quickly reduced that number by half, winning a flip with pocket threes to take out Gonzalo Jose when his king-queen failed to hit. Jose went home with $81,230, but for Moneymaker and the talented high roller regular Benitez, the showdown for the trophy was on.

Moneymaker began the heads-up battle with the lead on 11,100,000 chips, while Benitez had 8,625,000 chips. The American poker hero built his lead before calling a raise with king-five. The flop of T-5-4 saw Moneymaker check with middle pair but Benitez bet his own middle pair with nine-five. Moneymaker called and a king on the turn was gin.

Again, Moneymaker checked and that set the trap perfectly, as Benitez bet again. Moneymaker’s check-raise was called by the Uruguayan. The river of a four of clubs saw Moneymaker shove and Benitez called to his doom, winning $126,020 as his more decorated pro lifted the trophy and claimed the $179,770 top prize. The 48-year-old Moneymaker saw his career earnings go past $7.6 million with his latest ranking title.