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