Chris Ferguson

Christopher Philip “Jesus” Ferguson was a prominent figure during the early days of the poker boom, earning his nickname for his trademark long hair. At that time, he was a favorite among players and poker fans alike. Ferguson was also known for his role in founding and directing Full Tilt Poker, a prominent online poker company. However, his involvement with Full Tilt ultimately led to his downfall. Following the events of Black Friday in April 2011, Ferguson failed to take responsibility or issue a sincere apology for what became one of the biggest scandals in online poker history.

Throughout his career, Ferguson has secured six WSOP bracelets and won the 2008 NBC Heads-Up Poker Championship. Notably, in 2017, he won his sixth WSOP bracelet and he was named WSOP Player of the Year.

Chris Ferguson: Early Life

Christopher Ferguson was born on April 11, 1963, in Los Angeles, California. He grew up with a keen interest in technology, earning his Ph.D. in computer science from UCLA in 1989. Ferguson was particularly captivated by artificial intelligence, and his enthusiasm for the subject was evident whenever he spoke to the media. His parents, both accomplished mathematicians, likely influenced his academic path. His father, Thomas S. Ferguson, teaches game theory and theoretical probability at UCLA.

Ferguson spent five years as an undergraduate student and 13 years as a graduate student. During his time at UCLA, he also made an appearance as an assistant on the Ricky Jay Television Special, ‘Learned Pigs and Fireproof Women.’ In 1999, he earned his Ph.D. in computer sciences from UCLA, focusing on virtual network algorithms.

Poker became a passion for Ferguson when he was just 10 years old. During his college years, he refined his skills playing IRC poker and participating in online games to play for money in local chat rooms. Ferguson has always demonstrated a unique passion for the game, and his mathematical background helped him create a rather impressive career. His poker journey continued to flourish in the mid-1990s, eventually making his World Series of Poker (WSOP) debut in 1995.

Christopher Philip Ferguson: Full Tilt Poker Scandal

Chris Ferguson co-founded Full Tilt Poker in 2004, with the site launched by its parent company TiltWare. Full Tilt Poker quickly became one of the top online poker sites in the United States. During the poker boom of 2003, Ferguson saw an opportunity to elevate online poker to a new level. Backed by his knowledge of computers and programming, he teamed up with Ray Bitar, to create Full Tilt Poker. The site gained significant visibility by sponsoring high-profile poker shows such as Poker After Dark and launching numerous successful advertising campaigns. Ferguson became one of the most recognizable faces of Full Tilt, playing a key role in promoting the site to the public.

However, Full Tilt Poker faced several legal issues, with the most significant blow occurring on “Black Friday” in 2011. On September 20 of that year, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) amended an existing civil complaint against Full Tilt Poker. The complaint alleged that directors Chris Ferguson, Howard Lederer, and Rafe Furst were lining their own pockets with funds from the pockets of their most loyal customers. This also involved owners and employees of PokerStars and Absolute Poker. 

The DOJ revealed that Full Tilt Poker owed around $390 million to players globally, including approximately $150 million to American players. The Full Tilt Poker website was briefly taken down but was reinstated on April 20, 2011. Ferguson’s lawyer contested the accusations, arguing that the problems were likely due to mismanagement rather than intentional wrongdoing.

Although the legality of online poker remained debated, Ferguson’s case was dismissed on February 19, 2013. Following the scandal, Ferguson stepped away from the poker scene, but in June 2016, he made a surprising comeback by competing in the $10,000 Seven-Card Stud Championship at the World Series of Poker (WSOP). After 7 years of silence, Ferguson finally apologized releasing a video which statement begins by addressing the “poker community“.

Christopher Philip Ferguson: Poker Journey on High Stakes Poker

Christopher Ferguson debuted on March 11th, 2007, in HSP Season 3 Episode 9. He earned a significant $4,000 after sitting down with Jennifer Harman, Daniel Negreanu, Mike Matusow and others. They played a $300/600 +$100 ANTE ($1.2K) No Limit Holdem game.

His most recent appearance was on March 18th, 2007, during HSP Season 3 Episode 10. Ferguson competed in a $300/600 +$100 ANTE ($1.2K) No Limit Holdem game against Dan Shak, Phil Laak and others. He earned an impressive $28,800.

Christopher Philip Ferguson: Live Tournament Participation

Christopher Ferguson recorded his first live cash in March 1993. He participated in a $ 500 + 50 Pai Gow event at the Masters Of Poker Championship II, Gardena. Ferguson finished in 4th place earning $ 1,600.

In May 2000, he achieved his best live cash at the 31st World Series of Poker – WSOP 2000, Las Vegas. He took part in a  WSOP $5,000 + 100 Limit Omaha Hi/Lo event where he finished in 1st place and won an impressive $ 1,500,000.

His most recent live tournament participation was in September 2020. He competed in a WSOP  $ 100 No Limit Hold’em – WSOP MILLION$ event at the World Series of Poker – WSOP Online 2020 at GGPoker, Online. Ferguson finished in 1749th place and took home $437 in prize money.

Conclusion

Christopher Philip Ferguson’s rise in poker was marked by impressive wins and significant contributions, including six WSOP bracelets and a key role in early online poker. Yet, his career took a dramatic turn with the Full Tilt Poker scandal, casting a long shadow over his achievements. His story reflects how even the most successful careers can be deeply affected by controversy, leaving a legacy that’s as complicated as it is noteworthy.