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In sports, there are records that seem unbreakable. Lou Gehrig’s streak of consecutive games played was a record that was supposed to stand for all time until Cal Ripken, Jr broke it. Roger Maris’ 61 homers was another that was supposed to be next to unbreakable. However, Mark McGuire, Sammy Sosa, and Barry Bonds have all hit more in a single season than Maris. Babe Ruth’s all-time home run record has fallen twice. The only baseball record to not fall, yet, is Joe DiMaggio’s consecutive games with a hit record.

Ripken Proved No Record is Forever - Who Will Do it in Poker?

Thinking about this, there are a few records that I wonder will ever be matched or broken now that the poker boom has made the WSOP and related tournaments so massive:

Three Main Event Titles – Johnny Moss and Stu Ungar

Johnny Moss and Stu Ungar both hold three main event titles. Technically, Stu is the only man to “win” three as Moss won one of his titles by a vote. The only Main Event winners with two Doyle Brunson and Johnny Chan. While it is possible that they could win another Main Event, I don’t see it likely. (The WSOP Europe is about the only real chance they have to win another Main Event in my opinion.) This could be the equivalent to Dimaggio’s streak in poker.

Eleven Bracelets – Phil Hellmuth

Granted, this number could go up, but I think this is going to be the equivalent of the Home Run record in Major League Baseball. The difference is that we won’t have a steroid controversy to cloud the record of one of the holders. I could see either Erik Seidel or Phil Ivey taking this, if not both. Yes, I realize that Doyle and Johnny are closer to tying, but I fell that at best, either of them have one bracelet left in them. Doyle’s window is closing.

Three Bracelets in a Year – Most recently achieved by Jeff Lisandro

Before this year, I would have said that just getting here again was highly unlikely, but after what I have seen in the last year or so, I think there is a chance that this could fall. However, I only see one or two people doing so. Phil Ivey could be one of them. You will not see a Holdem play do this. You might see a holdem event won as one of the four, but a play that main plays Holdem I think has next to zero chance of taking this record.

Back to Back Main Event Titles

I don’t even see this happening anytime in the future, if ever. The fields are so massive that winning a back to back title is nearly impossible. Back-to-back meaning the same title two years in a row. Winning the WSOP-E and then the WSOP Las Vegas doesn’t count. Winning the WSOP-E almost doesn’t count, but I think its possible due to the fact of the small field size.

Let me know what you think. Also, if you have something to add to this list, feel free to share.