WSOP

1970 was the year of the very first World Series of Poker, also known as the World Championships of Poker.

It is said that in the summer of 1949, inveterate gambler Nicholas ‘Nick the Greek’ Dandolos proposed a challenge for the best in high-stakes poker marathon to Benny Binion. Subsequently a match pitting Dandolos against the legendary Johnny Moss was organized by Binion to be played in public view.

The marathon went into five months with only sleep breaks featuring every possible form of poker. Moss emerged the winner of the biggest game in town with around $2 million.

1971 onwards cash prizes have been offered in all WSOP events. The new Five-Card Stud became an addition to the main event of No Limit Texas Hold’em in 1973. New events have been added and removed since then.

The early 1980s saw soaring popularity of the World Series thanks to low-but in satellites. The tournament that attracted 52 entrants in 1982, shot up to 2,141 five years later and 7,595 in 2002. A proportionate rise in prize money took $7,769,000 a decade ago to a whopping $19,5999 in 2002. In 1988 there were only 12 events, prominent being Texas Hold’em and Seven-Card Stud, while in 2004 the tournament features 33 competitions with a vast array of games.

The biggest poker event in the world, the WSOP title of world champion is widely considered to be the ultimate feat. Australian Joe Hachem overcame 5,618 players to win last year’s title along with a record 7.5 million dollars for his buy-in stake of $10,000. The 2006 event is expected to draw over 8,000 players to vie for an unprecedented prize of over $10 million, owing to the popularity of internet poker rooms including Absolute Poker.

The growth of the WSOP continues unabated each year. Celebrities, industry icons and professionals have been increasingly flocking to the world’s fastest growing sport. With leading players the likes of Michael Mizrachi and Mark Seif taking on celebrities like James Woods and Shannon Elizabeth, there will be no dearth of excitement in 2006.