| When you hear the term, the World Series of | | | | money (5 of the 6 eventually won a World |
| Poker, most people today think about ESPN | | | | Series title). And again, Johnny Moss was |
| coverage and thousands of people all laying | | | | victorious. |
| down $10,000 to become the next poker | | | | |
| millionaire. The top players are cult icons | | | | Through the years men became relatively |
| and have turned their fame into small | | | | famous by winning the title. Amarillo Slim |
| fortunes, hocking chip sets, instructional | | | | Preston won in 1972. Doyle Brunson won in |
| videos, books, video games, and websites. But | | | | 1976 and 1977. Stu Ungar won in 1980, 1981, |
| it hasn't always been that way. | | | | and later in 1997. And Johnny Chan won back |
| | | | to back in 1987 and 1988. Chan was later |
| The idea for the World Series began in the | | | | immortalized in the movie Rounders. |
| summer of 1949 when Nicholas "Nick the Greek" | | | | |
| Dandolos approached Binion's Horseshoe owner | | | | The size of the tournament changed |
| Benny Binion to set up a match between | | | | dramatically a couple of times. One addition |
| Dandolos and the legendary Texas road | | | | that Binion created was a satellite |
| gambler, Johnny Moss. Binion did so with the | | | | tournament. These were tournaments set up so |
| stipulation that the game would be played in | | | | that players who didn't want to put down the |
| public view. | | | | full $10,000 buy in, could put up $1000 and |
| | | | play with a smaller tournament with 9 other |
| Crowds gathered at Binion's Horseshoe to | | | | players with the winner gaining an entry into |
| watch this marathon contest that lasted five | | | | the Main Event. This satellite concept |
| months with breaks only for sleep. Moss | | | | quickly spawned many more entrants and other |
| ultimately won an estimated $2 million. When | | | | similar ideas (such as larger satellites with |
| "The Greek" lost his last pot, he arose from | | | | an even smaller buy in) grew around them. |
| his chair, bowed slightly, and uttered the | | | | |
| now-famous words, "Mr. Moss, I have to let | | | | In 2003, the World Series of Poker took a |
| you go." Binion, always a promoter at heart, | | | | turn. The World Poker Tour had exploded and |
| noted that the public had gathered outside | | | | ESPN decided to televise the entire main |
| the casino each day to watch the game with | | | | event with hole card cams to give the viewers |
| the fervor of dedicated sports fans, and he | | | | a look into the mind of the great players. |
| was amazed at the attention the event had | | | | And an unknown with a perfect name came out |
| attracted. | | | | on top. Chris Moneymaker turned the poker |
| | | | world upside down with his victory over the |
| However, it wasn't until 1970 that Binion | | | | greats of the game. And the poker phenomenon |
| decided to re-create this excitement and | | | | was born. |
| stage a battle of poker giants - dubbed the | | | | |
| "World Series of Poker" - to determine who | | | | In the last few years, many of these |
| would be worthy of the title "World | | | | satellites have begun to take place online. |
| Champion." He sent word out to find the best | | | | The boom of this online satellite system has |
| poker players in the country and 38 top pros | | | | been a key driver in the expansion of the |
| showed up. They played for several days | | | | WSOP and other poker events. Combined with |
| mixing different games. In the end, the | | | | the Moneymaker win, the size of the main |
| decision was democratic in that the champion | | | | event has gone from 613 in 2002 to 5619 in |
| was decided by popular vote. After the first | | | | 2005. |
| vote when each gambler voted for himself, | | | | |
| Binion changed the rules so that no man could | | | | Today, the legacy Benny Binion left the poker |
| vote for himself. Naturally Johnny Moss came | | | | community ranks as the oldest, largest, and |
| out on top. Thus the WSOP was born. | | | | most prestigious gambling competition in the |
| | | | world. In 2005, with 5619 entrants, $7.5 |
| It wasn't until 1971 that the tournament | | | | million for first, and players from around |
| structure was born. Binion created the freeze | | | | the world, the WSOP has grown from a small |
| out structure where everyone would play until | | | | gambling convention to an international |
| one man had all the chips after each put up | | | | sporting event. |
| $10,000. Only 6 men would put up that much | | | | |