WSOP history

History

The World championship on poker (The World Series of Poker) - the most well-known, most exciting and most highly paid competition on poker. Though officially the championship have started to spend in 1970, but there are two variants which are considered as the beginning of this well-known series.

It is considered, that the first big competition on poker has been spent in 1968 when Volume Moore from San Antonio (State of Texas), on purpose to advertise the hotel "Holiday Hotel and Casino" in Reno, has organised tournament "The Texas Gamblers Reunion" which it is considered to be the basis of a World series of poker. It has won Crandall Addington which eight times got to number of ten best at main competition WSOP - a record which keeps till now.

However there is also other opinion. In the summer of 1949 Nicholas "Greek" Dandolos, the inveterate gambler, has arrived to Las Vegas in search of players with whom it would be possible to play in a large way. In gambling capital of the world even at that time there were enough places where game went on high rates, but all played ring's tables on 7-8 persons with limit rates. "Greek" preferred No-limite poker one-on-one. Its searches were short - all know, that Las Vegas is a city, capable to satisfy any whims if only only it made profit. As it often happens in history, requirements and possibilities have converged in one place, and something was born great - the First public tournament on poker.

After improbable on those times of tournament of Benny Binion in a head the idea of carrying out of such competition has come.

Not without reason Benny Binion became a legend of Las Vegas to whom have established a monument, on a level with Rafael Rivera - the first white person who has opened a valley Las Vegas. Benny Binion and his sons were those people who have deduced poker because of "a kitchen table" in dazzling halls of a casino.

So, Benny, quickly having thought, that was presented to it an excellent case for free promotion of recently got casino, has offered "Greek" some kind of show - to play tournament lasting many days one-on-one eyes at public. In opponents Binion has invited the famous player from Dallas Johnny Moss.

Legendary battle lasted more than five months in a lobby of a "Horseshoe" Casino and daily collected a large quantity of spectators from among local residents and tourists who with delight observed of game of the most known players of that time. The marathon has ended Moss's with victory which has won "the Greatest game of a city" and has earned 2 million dollars.

In two decades Benny Binion, remembering an unknown agiotage which has arisen at public round that marathon in "Horseshoe", has decided to organise something similar, but already on a global scale. The championship has been named "World Series of Poker, WSOP" and the problem put no more not less how to define, who from players is worthy ranks of the World champion.

So, the first official tournament has taken place in 1970 at the initiative of  Benny Binion and proceeded all week in a casino "Benny Binion's Horseshoe" in Las Vegas. In it has taken part only 7 players.
Johnny Moss on an extent more than kept twenty years the informal title of the Champion, and it was quite natural, that in this championship it became a key figure, to battle with which the famous persons of that time have gathered. The best player was defined by voices of spectators, and the indisputable favourite Johnny Moss was again recognised. It has received a silver cup and a rank of the world champion on game in poker. The championship has been named "World Series of Poker" (WSOP) and the problem put to define the best poker the player in the world.

Competition passed in the following, 1971 by rules Freezeout tournament, and Johnny Moss has shown again the best result. Victory of Thomas "Amarillo Slim" Preston in 1972 promoted further popularisation WSOP, as this player has glorified the name (and together with it and WSOP) through active participation in various talk shows. Since then, every year World Tournament on poker grew. In 1973 13 players have taken part in it, in 1982 - 52. Five years after there was already 2141 participants, and in 2002 competition passed between 7595 players. Now one week of special tournaments has turned to six-week race in a mode non-stop by which results define the best player of a planet. The prize-winning fund on it which have become by most prestigious competition, accordingly as increased from 7769000$ in the beginning 90 to 19599230$ in 2002.

In the eighties Benny Binion has entered auxiliary tournaments (Satellits) which gave chance to players with the small capital to catch a place in the Main event. 21 centuries, a century the Internet of technologies, has brought the mite in history. In 2003 there was epoch-making for all fans of poker an event named "Moneymaker Effect" when to nobody the known bookkeeper from Tennessee, Chris Moneymaker has received a champion title (and together with it $2500000), for the first time having won participation in selection 40 dollar it-lajn tournament. Its victory has shown, that modern WSOP is really grandiose possibility for any player to declare itself, as about the best in the world.

Every year on competition the increasing quantity of players was registered, and the prize-winning fund, accordingly, increased. In 1971 in the main tournament of a series has taken part only 6 players, and the winner has received 30 000 US dollars. Thomas "Amarillo Slim" Preston has won Preston tournament in 1972 at 8 opponents, each of which has counted $10,000. Then, having won all prize-winning fund, it has grown rich on $80,000.
In 2000 519 players have taken part in tournament. Chris Ferguson became the owner of rank WSOP and a monetary prize at a rate of $1,500,000. In 2004 record quantity of players, 2576, battled for a world champion's title. The size of the first prize has made $5,000,000.
In 2006 American Jamie Gold, having beaten 8772 participants, has won 12 million dollars. In 2007 the quantity of participants was a little reduced in connection with accepted by the government of the USA measures on struggle against game in poker on the Internet. Despite it, in the main tournament played 6358 persons, and winner Jerry Yang has won 8,25 million dollars.

Now the tradition declared by Benny Binion, is considered the important and outstanding event and is widely shined in a press, and besides, has huge prospects. Anyway, a World Series of Poker throughout many years influences people, giving to them the chance to realise the desires to be recognised and become a poker star.

Nevertheless, for last years the mechanism of a World Series of Poker has undergone certain changes. Now any person, skilled enough and successful to get in WSOP, the challenge can risk and throw down to leading players and to compete for the largest prize in the world to symbolical expenses or in general is free.