Chris Ferguson Biography

Chris “Jesus” Ferguson is one of the most recognizable figures in live poker. With his long hair and goatee, he earned his nickname due to the fact he looks like the stereotypical portrait of Jesus Christ. To many, Ferguson looks like someone trying to give off some type of gimmick image, but in reality, “Jesus” is likely the most intellectual poker player on the circuit.

Ferguson started playing poker as a child but really did not become serious about the game until college. Ferguson was one of the first players to develop their skills via “online poker.” The difference between Ferguson and many online players is that Ferguson developed his skills via the internet relay chat program IRC.

It is amazing that Ferguson did not end up in the computer industry based on his background. He attended UCLA where he earned his Ph.D. in Computer Science with a focus on artificial intelligence. He spent 18 years in college and even had Leonard Kleinrock as an adviser. Kleinrock is one of the men responsible for creating UCLA’s ARPANET, which was the world’s first network. He also helped to develop packet switching, which is the essential technology behind the interenet.
Armed with his mathematical approach to poker and his preprogrammed routine during play, Ferguson started to play poker tournaments in 1994 and started playing at the WSOP in 1995. Ferguson made many final tables in the 90’s and had a few small wins, but it wasn’t until 2000 that he would break through on the grandest stage in the world, the World Series of Poker.
First, Ferguson won his first WSOP bracelet in the $2,500 Seven Card Stud event. This event brought him his largest payday to date at $151,000. However, even Ferguson could not envision what was to come just a couple of weeks later. Ferguson made the final table of the WSOP Main Event and ultimately faced legendary rounder T.J. Cloutier heads-up for the title. After a see-saw battle, Ferguson’s A-9 outran Cloutier’s A-Q when a miracle nine hit the river. Not only did Ferguson win his 2nd bracelet, but also $1.5 Million, which was the largest prize in WSOP history to that date.

Since winning the Main Event, Ferguson has went on to win a total of five WSOP bracelets. In addition to his five bracelets, Ferguson also holds three WSOP Circuit Main Event rings. He is the only player in WSOP Circuit history with three Main Event rings. Ferguson’s other claim to fame was his three year run in the NBC National Heads-Up Championships. Ferguson finished 2nd in the event in both 2005 and 2006. He then finally broke through in 2007 when he defeated Andy Bloch heads-up to take the title and $500,000.

For his career, Ferguson has over $8 Million in tournament earnings and shows no signs of slowing down. With the exception of 2002, Ferguson has earned no less than $250,000 per year in the last decade. (In 2002, he earned “only” $199,607.) Very few poker players have shown the consistency year in and out as Ferguson. Odds are that as long as poker can continue to hold his interest, Ferguson will be crushing souls and making final tables for many years to come.