The World Series of Poker tournament was first played in 1970 and has grown in popularity ever since. There are many different poker game events in the tournament today including seven card stud, seven card stud high low, Omaha, Omaha high low, Texas hold'em, and more. The winner of each poker game event is awarded a gold bracelet signifying the world championship of that poker event.
The World Series of Poker final tournament game is no-limit Texas hold'em. This final event has a $10,000 entry fee and the winner receives the World Champion of Poker title. The prize in 2003 is expected to reach $2,000,000 or more. The winner of this final poker event also has his picture installed in the Gallery of Champions at Binion's.
History of the World Series of Poker Tournament
The World Series of Poker has
had it's share of drama and excitement in the more than thirty years it
has existed. In a story that should give every poker player hope, Jack
Strauss came back to win one year after having lost all but one chip of
his stake early in the poker tournament. Proving that it is never too
late to be great again,
Stu Ungar
picked up his third win after spending 17 years mostly out of
competition.
One of the leading money winners in the World Series of Poker has been
T. J. Cloutier. Over the years, he has finished in the money in over 30
poker game events. He has also won four first place gold bracelets in
various events. In the main event of Texas hold'em, he has finished
twice in second-place, and once each in third place and fifth place.
Billy Baxter, one of the other big names in poker, dominated the
deuce-to-seven draw poker event for many years, with five first place
finishes and two second place finishes.
Many other household poker names have graced the World Series of Poker
over the years. Names such as Mickey Appleman, Bobby Baldwin, Doyle
Brunson, Johnny Chan, Johnny Moss, and "Amarillo Slim" Preston.
World Series of Poker Champions
World Series of Poker
Champions
These are the winners of the final championship event, which is no-limit
Texas hold'em.
2006 Jamie Gold (first time the prize was $12 million)
2005
Joseph Hachem
(first time the prize was $7,5 million)
2004 Greg Raymer (first time the prize was $5,0
million)
2003 Chris MoneyMaker (first time the the prize was $2.5million
2002
Robert Varkonyi
2001 Carlos Mortenson
2000 Chris "Jesus" Ferguson (first time the first prize was $1.5
million)
1999 Noel Furlong
1998 Scotty Nguyen
1997 Stu Ungar
1996 Huck Seed
1995 Dan Harrington
1994 Russ Hamilton (also won his weight in silver as a "WSOP Silver
Anniversary" bonus)
1993 Jim Bechtel
1992 Hamid Dastmalchi
1991 Brad Daugherty (the first time the first prize was $1 million)
1990 Mansour Matloubi
1989 Phil Hellmuth, Jr. (youngest ever winner)
1988 Johnny Chan
1987 Johnny Chan
1986 Berry Johnston
1985 Bill Smith
1984 Jack Kellar
1983 Tom McEvoy
1982 Jack "Treetop" Strauss
1981 Stu Ungar
1980 Stu Ungar
1979 Hal Fowler
1978 Bobby Baldwin
1977 Doyle Brunson
1976 Doyle Brunson
1975 Sailor Roberts
1974 Johnny Moss
1973 Puggy Pearson
1972 "Amarillo Slim" Preston
1971 Johnny Moss (won in competition, as are all subsequent)
1970 Johnny Moss (awarded by peer vote)
