Poker Tournaments

World Series of Poker (WSOP)

World Series of Poker is, without parallel, the world's most prestigious tournament in poker today. Since 1970, it has been a major annual affair held at the Horseshoe in downtown Las Vegas, and eagerly anticipated by all poker enthusiasts the world over.

To earn the coveted title of World Series Champion at WSOP is deemed as the ultimate career attainment by every serious poker player. In 2003, Chris Moneymaker brought home the title, and with it, a whopping $2.5 million along with the prestigious WSOP gold bracelet. Chris beat 838 other players to the victory for his buy-in stake of $10,000 actually won via an online poker site, for an original stake of $40.

The WSOP story began in the 1970s when Benny Binion started a friendly tournament with his poker buddies to see who was the best of them. Every year, the number of entrants would grow, as would the prize money. Little did Benny know he was creating the fulfillment of every poker player's dream.

As time went by, similar events have sprung up and made their way to the annual poker calendar, some with a buy-in so big it has exceeded the $10,000 buy-in made so famous by WSOP. But to this day, WSOP reigns in the realm of poker tournaments. None of those events quite compares to sitting down in the tournament room with a thousand of the best poker players in the world, and be part of the history that always begins with the legendary Binion announcement, "Shuffle up and deal."

In 2000, 512 of the world's best poker pros paid the entrance fee of $10,000 to enter the main event, creating a world record-breaking prize pool of $5,120,000. Chris "Jesus" Ferguson emerged victorious and took home $1.5 million dollars.

Come 2003, 839 potential winners signed up, paying the $10,000 entrance fee either from their own pockets, via a Super Satellite win, or from winning at an online poker site. Chris Moneymaker made the latter option, earning his $10,000 by winning at an online poker site, from an initial investment of only $40. Prior to this, Chris had never played a live tournament in his life. For a first-time tournament costing him a mere S40, Chris Moneymaker came out $2.5 million richer.

In January 2004, speculations that WSOP would come to a halt finally came true, to every follower's dismay. Authorities came to put padlocks and chains on the doors of Binion's Horseshoe, ending the Binion family's ownership not only of the famed casino in downtown Las Vegas but also of the WSOP legacy the family had started. While this ill-fated moment happened in Las Vegas, the Jack Binion World Poker Open took place in Tunica. Soon after, Becky Binion would announce that they had signed a deal with Harrah's to take The Horseshoe, and yes, WSOP. Already, participants have been expected to reach as high as 1400.

2004's three main contenders happen to be tied with 9 bracelets each. They are Doyle Brunson, Phil Hellmuth, Jr. (the youngest player to ever win the WSOP main event), and Johnny Chan trailing not far behind. $1.5 million, maybe more, will be taken by this year's big winner.

The Binions are confident that Harrah's will continue to share the dream and vision of the World Series of Poker, keeping it on its seat high up on top of all poker tournaments.

Who is Benny Binion?

Lester Ben Binion was born on November 20, 1904, just near Pilot Grove (1904 population: 150) at Grayson County, Texas. Benny grew up under the big Texas sky though he did not stay long in Pilot Grove. From 1922 to 1946, Benny gambled his way in the heart of Dallas, Texas, first as a "steer man" guiding customers to his boss' games, and later as the man who ran them. His list of big-name customers included H.L. Hunt, Howard Hughes, and Sid Richardson.

Benny moved to Las Vegas in January 1947, with his wife and their five children. He owned the Las Vegas Club, the Westerner, and in 1951, the now world-famous Horseshoe—helping transform a former desert into a world entertainment capital. With a dream to bring the world's best poker players together for the world's best poker tournament, Benny brought the enormously popular, always sold out, National Finals Rodeo to Las Vegas, and of course, the larger-than-life World Series of Poker.

Benny Binion died on Christmas Day, 1989, at the age of 85.

World Series of Poker Hall of Fame

World Series of Poker 2008 Tournament Schedules

WSOP Millionaires

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