The top five winners of 2018

As promised yesterday, we're back with the top five winners of 2018.

See part one of the article here.

5. Bryn Kenney $2,360,134

The biggest winner of 2017 has started this year right where he finished the last. It seems almost impossible to achieve the level of success he did last year when he accumulated $8,505,897, but if someone can do it, it's Bryn. Just like many of his peers, Kenney booked his biggest score of the year in Macau, when he finished 5th in the SHRB China for $1,484,024. He also had a nice payday in January, when he got third in the PCA $100K SHR for $686,960.

Bryn Kenney

4. Stephen Chidwick $2,886,067

The hero of the 2018 US Poker Open, Stephen Chidwick is 4th on the list with almost $3 million. Chidwick managed to win two events of the debuting festival in the ARIA Casino, as well as spiking a 2nd and a 3rd place for a total of $1,256,650. Much to a surprise of everyone, who read part one of this article, Stephen also hit his biggest score at the SHRB China. His 6th place worth $1,298,521 for the Englishman.

Killing it at the tables, killing it in the barber shop

3. Rainer Kempe $2,981,583

Third on the German All-time Money List, Rainer is also a high-roller grinder, showing up everywhere, if the stakes are high enough. He added almost $3 million to his live tournament earnings, making a total of $14,578,047. His biggest score of the year is a $2 million worth of 3rd place finish at the SHRB China.

2. Patrik Antonius $3,878,539

The living legend, Patrik Antonius returned to the tournament circuit after several years of absence and it seems to be a rewarding decision. The Finish high-stakes cash game specialist accumulated almost $4 million in the first three months of 2018. He took down the €25K Super High Roller in King's Casino, Rozvadov for €425,000 and then flew to Macau in March, to cash both in the HK$400K and the HK$2,000,000 Super High Rollers for $204,378 and $3,153,551 respectively.

Hopefully this article will make Patrik smile

1. Justin Bonomo $7,213,328

The king of 2018 Q1 is Justin Bonomo and it's not even close. The champion of the Super High Roller Bowl China ($4,823,077) also has a runner-up finish from January, where he lost the heads up against Cary Katz in the PCA $100K SHR, for a compensation money of $1,077,800.

Taking down a USPO event ($190,400) and and the High Roller of the Lucky Hearts Poker Open ($556,873), a second place in the $50K SHR at the same festival ($197,200) and a 4th place finish from the Bahamas ($310,150) also helped him on his way to the throne. The US pro climbed the ladder rather quickly and is currently 6th on the All-Time Money list with the total earnings of more than $25 million.