World Series of Poker

The World Series of Poker is the most prestigious set of poker tournaments in the world.

Evolution

From 1971 on, all WSOP events have been tournaments with cash prizes. In 1973 a new event, five-card stud, was added to the main event of No Limit Texas Hold 'em. Since then new events have been added and removed. In 2005 there were 42 events at the WSOP, including poker games like Omaha and Razz as well as events only for seniors and women. Event winners get, in addition to their prize money, the coveted golden bracelet.

Related Topics:
1971 - 1973 - Texas Hold 'em - 2005 - Omaha - Razz

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Doyle Brunson (nicknamed "Texas Dolly") and Johnny Chan have each won ten bracelets, while Phil Hellmuth has nine. Doyle's son, Todd Brunson, won a bracelet in a pot limit Omaha event in 2005, making them the first father/son combo to win at least one event at the WSOP. Also, actress Jennifer Tilly became the first celebrity to win a WSOP event when she won the Women's No-Limit Texas Hold-'Em event in 2005.

Related Topics:
Doyle Brunson - Johnny Chan - Phil Hellmuth - Jennifer Tilly

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The number of participants in the WSOP has grown every year, and in recent years the growth has exploded. In 2000 there were 4,780 entrants in the various events, but in 2005, the number rose to over 23,000 players. In the main event alone, participants grew from 839 in 2003, to 2,576 in 2004, to 5,619 in 2005. Much of this growth can be attributed to the WSOP airing on ESPN and the World Poker Tour being shown on the Travel Channel, along with other USA television over-the-air and cable networks such as Fox Sports Net and their "Poker Superstars" series, Bravo with the "Celebrity Poker Showdown" series and GSN with their "Poker Royale" series.

Related Topics:
2000 - ESPN - World Poker Tour - Travel Channel - Fox Sports Net - Bravo - Celebrity Poker Showdown - GSN

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Like most tournaments, the sponsoring casino takes a rake from the buy-ins and distributes the rest, hence the prize money increases with more players. In the 2005 main event $52,818,610 (US) in prize money was distributed, including a $7.5 million first prize. Subtracting the $10,000 buy-ins, over $47 million was won by 560 players in the event. Carl Ygborn finished "on the bubble" (in 561st place), and Harrah's gave him a free entry into the 2006 Main Event.

Related Topics:
Rake - Carl Ygborn

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In 2004, Harrah's Entertainment purchased Binion's Horseshoe, renaming it just "Binion's" and announced that the 2005 Series would be held at the Harrah's-owned Rio Casino, just off the Las Vegas strip, with the final two days of the main event held downtown at Binion's in celebration of the centennial of the founding of Las Vegas. It also added a one-time made-for-television $2 million "freeroll" winner-take-all, invitational "Tournament of Champions" (TOC) event won by Annie Duke. Starting in 2005, the WSOP began a tournament "circuit" at Harrah's-owned properties in the United States where in addition to a $10,000 buy-in tournament, qualifying players became eligible for a revamped Tournament of Champions. On July 16 of 2005, during a recess in the main event's final table, it was announced that twelve Harrah's properties (including the recently added Bally's and Caesar's Palace properties) will participate in the 2005-06 WSOP circuit starting in Tunica, Mississippi on August 11 of that year. The Rio will host all WSOP major events again, starting with the TOC on June 28 and 29, 2006, and the various events leading up to the main event in 2006.

Related Topics:
Harrah's Entertainment - 2005 - Centennial - Annie Duke - July 16 - Caesar's Palace - August 11

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