Chris Ferguson

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**Chris Ferguson**
Ferguson at the 2004 World Series of Poker
Nickname(s)	Jesus
Hometown	Pacific Palisades, California
World Series of Poker
Bracelet(s)	5
Money finishes	45(+1)
Highest ITM main event finish	Winner (2000)
World Poker Tour
Titles	None
Final tables	1
Money Finishes	7

For the American astronaut, see Christopher Ferguson

Chris "Jesus" Ferguson (born April 11, 1963, in Los Angeles, California) is a professional poker player.

Ferguson attended UCLA where he earned a Ph.D. in computer science (focusing on artificial intelligence) in 1999 after five years as an undergraduate and 13 years as a graduate student. His Ph.D. advisor was Leonard Kleinrock. Ferguson's parents have doctoral degrees in mathematics and his father, Thomas Ferguson, teaches game theory at UCLA.

Ferguson was playing poker before age 10. In college he honed his skill on IRC playing poker for play money in chat rooms. In 1994 he began playing in tournaments in California and in 1995 entered his first World Series of Poker. Ferguson beat T. J. Cloutier at the main event of the 2000 WSOP to win the $1.5 million prize.

Ferguson finished runner-up to Phil Hellmuth Jr in the 2005 National Heads-Up Poker Championship. He made the final again in 2006, but again finished second, this time to Ted Forrest.

Ferguson is nicknamed "Jesus" because of his trademark long brown hair and beard. On television some interesting factlets about him have been revealed, including his presidency of a swing dancing club at UCLA as well as his ability to throw playing cards fast enough to cut through bananas, pickles, carrots, watermelons, and even melons.

Ferguson is part of the design team for Full Tilt Poker, an online poker website that opened in July 2004.

As of 2006, his total live tournament winnings exceed $5,700,000.

[edit] World Series of Poker Bracelets

Year	Tournament	Prize (US$)
2000	$2,500 Seven Card Stud	$151,000
2000	$10,000 No Limit Hold'em World Championship	$1,500,000
2001	$1,500 Omaha Hi-Lo Split Eight or Better	$164,735
2003	$2,000 Omaha Hi-Lo Split Eight or Better	$123,680
2003	$2,000 1/2 Limit Hold'em - 1/2 Seven Card Stud	$66,220