He didn't beat 2000 people...he beat like a little over 800 players. There's no question that every poker has to have both luck/skill to win a tourney of this nature....but the way he got there and his record shows....he's not as skilled as most poker players out there.
He put the money in bad at least twice in the tourney. The 88 vs AA against Bernes where they both miss the flop and he called the all in only to catch his set on the turn. And the hand against Ivey where he made trip queens and top pair vs the full house of iveys, only to river the A for bigger full house.
He made a few amazing calls like the one against Dutch Boyd with 33 vs overcards.....but his record since the wsop win has shown he's now where the level as other pros. One of the shows that clearly shows this is the Poker Superstars II....he never had a chance to win anything...and was totally outplayed most of the time.
I don't know....I would put Varkonyi and Moneymaker in the same category as one year miracles.
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