Top Poker Winners and Losers of 2009: Who Made and Lost Millions

2009 was a year of significant ups and downs in the high-stakes poker world. Several players made impressive profits, while others faced substantial losses.

Patrick Antonius topped the list of the most profitable poker players of 2009 with earnings of +$8,973,946. Despite facing challenges, including a significant loss to Durrrr, Antonius's overall performance was impressive. His earnings were driven by his success in H.A. and H.O.R.S.E. games.

Phil Ivey, known for his consistent winning streak, earned +$6,337,702 in online poker. Most of his earnings came from pot-limit Omaha, where he won +$5,32 million. Ivey's performance was notable despite facing a rough start to the year.

Bryan Hastings earned +$4,731,848 in 2009, largely due to a single epic session where he won $4.2 million from Isildur1. This session significantly boosted his annual earnings.

Ash Griffin, known as theASHMAN103, earned +$3,648,198 in 2009 after winning a heads-up tournament and playing high-stakes games. His strategic moves and successful tournament wins contributed to his impressive earnings.

Ilari "Ziigmund" Sahamies earned +$3,060,479 in 2009, despite losing a significant amount to Isildur1 in November. His steady performance throughout the year helped him maintain a positive balance.

On the other side, Gus Hansen ended 2009 with a loss of -$5,575,624 despite starting the year with nearly $3 million in profits. His downswing in the latter part of the year was substantial.

Tom "Durrrr" Dwan lost -$4,345,852 in 2009, largely due to his battles with Isildur1. Despite this, Dwan managed to recover some of his losses by the end of the year.

Sami "LarsLuzak" Kelopuro lost -$4,094,276 in 2009 after showing consistent profits in previous years. His performance in 2009 was a significant drop from his past successes.

David Benjamin ended 2009 with losses of -$2,973,630 after playing under the nicknames "MR B 2 U SON" and as a Full Tilt Pro. His performance was marked by both highs and lows throughout the year.

Isildur1 ended 2009 with a loss of -$2,216,177 after a rapid rise and fall in his bankroll. His dramatic fluctuations in fortune made him one of the most talked-about players of the year.