When Jason Lester walks into any poker room, everyone seems to recognize him. He’s been playing in poker tournaments for twenty years. He’s cashed 16 times at the World Series of Poker, and made six final table appearances.

He was part of poker’s biggest story ever when Chris Moneymaker rocked the world and won the 2003 championship event. Lester finished fourth that year. Had a few key hands gone the other way, perhaps it would have been Lester’s day and he’d be a world champion. But alas, that’s poker.

Lester added his name to this year’s memorable list of tournament winners -- players who had previously been members of the WSOP’s supporting cast, while others got the starring roles.