AND SO IT BEGINS..........
The World Series Of Poker first hit the dizzy heights of las vegas way back in 1970 hosted by Binions Horseshoe Casino (pictured left), the event hosted by Mr Binion himself was put together in a little room in the casino, with no more than 4 poker tables as Binions did not even have its own poker room. In fact believe it or not there was no more than 40 odd poker tables in the whole of Las Vegas!!!!.
Unlike the W.S.O.P phenomenum that is today the championships consisted of only one event, the main event, although there were a few side games involved at the time.
Unlike the W.S.O.P phenomenum that is today the championships consisted of only one event, the main event, although there were a few side games involved at the time.
38 poker players graced the famous green felt to battle it out, although as what may come to a surprise to us all, the winner of the first W.S.O.P. was to be decided by vote. Mr Binion invited 7 of Americas finest players to make two votes to determine who was the worlds best, as we all would so modestly do all 7 players 1st vote was for themself, I mean who would not.......the second vote was completed and the majority number was given to the famous Jonny Moss, who recieved a silver cup and not the bracelets we all chase today.
1971 proved to be a little different from the previous year the winner would be determined via the main freezeout event with preliminary events such as Limit 7 card stud, Limit razz, Limit 5 card stud, and Limit ace to 5 draw completing the events games. The great jonny Moss scooped both the Main event and the Limit Ace to 5 draw titles to mark his standing as the best poker player of that year.
1972 was to be the year that changed poker and made W.S.O.P dizzy in itself, a few preliminary events were held and of course the main event which was won by the famous figure that is "Amirillo slim Preston", the very man that started the media frenzy up and down America. TV shows and publishers jumped on the bandwagon that led to the worls series being televised via CBS in 1973, this was a massive step in the right direction for many including poker itself along with Mr Binion.
One Puggy Pearson scooped the main event in 1973 another poker great, picking up $130,000 for his troubles, not bad for a bit of work i may add. More preliminary events were held including Seven card razz, 2 to 7 draw, Seven card stud, 5 card stud, Limit ace to 5 draw and even a lower buy in ($1000) No limit hold'em event, as the main event in 1973 boasted a buy in of $10,000, double the previous years, serious money!!
1971 proved to be a little different from the previous year the winner would be determined via the main freezeout event with preliminary events such as Limit 7 card stud, Limit razz, Limit 5 card stud, and Limit ace to 5 draw completing the events games. The great jonny Moss scooped both the Main event and the Limit Ace to 5 draw titles to mark his standing as the best poker player of that year.
1972 was to be the year that changed poker and made W.S.O.P dizzy in itself, a few preliminary events were held and of course the main event which was won by the famous figure that is "Amirillo slim Preston", the very man that started the media frenzy up and down America. TV shows and publishers jumped on the bandwagon that led to the worls series being televised via CBS in 1973, this was a massive step in the right direction for many including poker itself along with Mr Binion.
One Puggy Pearson scooped the main event in 1973 another poker great, picking up $130,000 for his troubles, not bad for a bit of work i may add. More preliminary events were held including Seven card razz, 2 to 7 draw, Seven card stud, 5 card stud, Limit ace to 5 draw and even a lower buy in ($1000) No limit hold'em event, as the main event in 1973 boasted a buy in of $10,000, double the previous years, serious money!!