The Disney Movie "Miracle" takes a look back at the 1980 Winter Olympics when the American hockey team did what no one dreamed possible. At the final table of the 2003 World Series of Poker, another miracle was set to take place. A miracle that even Hollywood could not script any better. The star is an amateur poker player from Spring Hill Tennessee aptly named Chris Moneymaker. A player who has no tournament experience and no real chance of winning as he takes his seat amongst the 839 players set to begin the 2003 WSOP no-limit Texas Holdem poker tournament in Las Vegas. But, the story doesn't begin there. Although the World Series of Poker is open to everyone, the $10,000 entry fee normally weeds out the middle-income weekend player who sees the long rode to payday just too far out of reach. And many of those that take the risk, find themselves at the exit long before the payouts begin. For Moneymaker, his journey didn't take the $10,000 high road, instead his hopes began with an online Texas Holdem tournament for the bargain price of $40. With the online victory, came the top prize of entry into the 2003 WSOP.

For a Texas Holdem player, winning entry into the WSOP is the equivalent of a minor league baseball player getting the call to come play with the big boys. At first, you may be a little intimidated, even feeling like you don't belong. However, the players that become superstars know they deserve to be there and come in with something to prove. On the last day of the 2003 WSOP, the players sitting at the final table knew Chris Moneymaker was the real thing. He came in with something to prove, and he proved it.

As the day went on, players fell one by one until only Chris Moneymaker and Sam Farha remained. On what turned out to be the final hand, Farha was holding a J10 with a J54 on the board after the flop. What looked to be a strong hand, quickly turned weak as Farha went all-in only to be called by Moneymarker holding a 54. Fourth Street helped no one, and Fifth Street completed the miracle giving Moneymaker the victory in the 2003 World Series of Poker.

Moneymarker's victory ignited enormous interest in the game of Texas Holdem. Amateurs everywhere have taken up the game as thoughts of a world title run through their minds as they beat 9 of their co-working adversaries in a weekend tournament. So, the 2003 WSOP may be over but the legend lives on. A Texas Holdem dream that turned $40 into $2.5 million and proved that fairy tales do come true.