2009 will mark the fortieth anniversary of the World Series of Poker. It was 1970 when Benny Binion invited a half dozen of the world's best poker players to come and play in a game of high stakes poker and decide by vote the world's best poker player. Poker legend Johnny Moss won the very first title that was decided by a vote of his 5 peers that year and then went on to win two more world champion poker player titles after the freeze out format was adopted in 1971. Benny Binion's son, Jack Binion, is credited with naming the new freeze-out format poker tournament the "World Series of Poker."
Most bracelets (11), Most Cashes (68), Most Final tables (41)
The only three time Main Event champion that won all three titles was the poker genesis, Stuey "The KId" Ungar. Doyle Brunson, Johnny Chan, and Stu Ungar are the only WSOP champions to chalk up back-to-back titles. Phil Hellmuth is in a class unto himself with a number of WSOP records - most bracelets, most final tables, most cashes, and for almost twenty years he held the record for youngest player (24) to win a Main Event. Peter Eastgate eclipsed Hellmuth's youth record last year when he won the Series first 'Main Event in November' at the young age of 22.
In 1970 there were six players invited to play in the Championship game, in 2006 8,773 poker players made their way to the WSOP poker room at the Rio Resort for the main event. The World Series of Poker moved to the Rio Resort from Binion's Horseshoe in 2005, returning downtown for one last time to play the Main Event final table won by Joseph Hachem, the last WSOP Main Event Champion crowned at the downtown Horseshoe. Jamie Gold collected the record WSOP winner's purse of $12 million in 2006.
What's new and better this year? Past performance indicates the 2009 WSOP will be the best yet. A $40,000 buy-in No-Limit Hold'em tournament (event #2) has been added to celebrate the 40th anniversary. ESPN360 will stream live broadcasts online of 24 final tables. The official name of the 2009 WSOP is World Series of Poker Presented by Jack Link's Beef Jerky. "PokerPalooza! Part trade show, part carnival, all fun!" says the Harrah's promo.
