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A Brief History of the World Series of Poker

The World Series of Poker made its debut in 1970. It was established by Benny Binion in an attempt to crown a "World Champion" and capitalize on the public's interest in watching no limit poker. The World Series of Poker has been held every year at Binion's Horseshoe Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas ever since. The original World Series of Poker games were invitational and 'winner takes all' as compared to today's game (which is open to anyone with the $10,000 buy-in fee and the prize pool is split amongst a number of the top finishers). The first World Series of Poker had only 7 players. In recent years that number has grown to over 7,500 entrants, with more than 800 playing in the main event - No Limit Texas Holdem. The major change to the World Series of Poker this decade has been the introduction of internet satellite tournaments, which allow poker players who have the skill, but not the $10,000, to join for the cost of a satellite buy-in. Some online poker rooms have been known to offer freeroll satellite tournaments as promotional gimmicks. In an unprecedented feat, last year's winner of the World Series of Poker garnered $2.5M after learning tournament poker on the internet and winning his seat from a $40 buy-in at poker stars online poker site.

Past Winners

2004 Greg Raymer $5M

2003: Chris Moneymaker  $2.5M

2002: Robert Varkyoni      $2.0M

2001: Carlos Mortensen

2000: Chris Ferguson

1999: Noel Furlong

1998: Scotty Nguyen

1997: Stu Unger

1996: Huck Seed

1995: Dan Harrington

1994: Russ Hamilton

1993: Jim Bechtel

1992: Hamid Datsmalchi

1991: Brad Daugherty

1990: Mansour Matloubi

1989: Phil Hellmuth

1988: Johnny Chan

1987: Johnny Chan

1986: Berry Johnston

1985: Bill Smith

1984: Jack Keller

1983: Tom McEvoy

1982: Jack Straus

1981: Stu Ungar

1980: Stu Ungar

1979: Hal Fowler

1978: Bobby Baldwin

1977: Doyle Brunson

1976: Doyle Brunson

1975: Sailor Roberts

1974: Johnny Moss

1973: Puggy Pearson

1972: Amarillo "Slim" Preston

1971: Johnny Moss

1970: Johnny Moss