 The
World Series of Poker Boasts Colorful History
www.binions.com
Though the World Series of Poker made its
official debut in 1970, the idea of the
Horseshoe's annual tournament was actually
conceived more than two decades earlier.
In the summer of 1949, as the story goes,
inveterate gambler Nicholas 'Nick the Greek'
Dandolos approached Benny Binion with an
unusual request-to challenge the best in
a high-stakes poker marathon. Binion agreed
to set up a match between Dandolos and the
legendary Johnny Moss, with the stipulation
that the game be played in public view.
During the course of the marathon, which
lasted five months with breaks only for
sleep, the two men played every form of
poker imaginable. Moss ultimately won 'the
biggest game in town' and an estimated $2
million. When the Greek lost his last pot,
he arose from his chair, bowed slightly,
and uttered the now-famous words, 'Mr. Moss,
I have to let you go.' Dandolos then went
upstairs to bed.
Though significant in its own way as a chapter
in poker history, the five-month marathon
took on added importance to Benny Binion.
He noted that the public had gathered outside
the casino each day to watch the game with
the fervor of dedicated sports fans, and
he was amazed at the attention the event
had attracted. But it wasn't until 1970
that Binion decided to re-create this excitement
and stage a battle of poker giants--dubbed
the 'World Series Of Poker'--to determine
who would be worthy of the title 'World
Champion.' Some of the best players in the
country were assembled, and Johnny Moss
came out on top. The decision was democratic
in that the champion was decided by popular
vote.
The following year, the winner was determined
by a freezeout competition, with players
being systematically eliminated until one
player had all the chips. Moss again was
declared the World Champion. In 1972, when
Thomas 'Amarillo Slim' Preston won the title
and went on the talk-show circuit, the WSOP
began to gain a wider following.
It was only a year later that Binion participated
in the Oral History Project at the University
of Nevada-Reno and discussed the World Series
with interviewer Mary Ellen Glass. 'This
poker game here gets us a lot of attention,'
he told Glass. 'We had seven players last
year, and this year we had 13. I look to
have better than 20 next year. It's even
liable to get up to be 50, might get up
to be more than that.' Binion then paused,
and as if gazing into the future, prophesied,
'It will eventually.'
In the early 1980's, with the introduction
of preliminary 'satellite' competitions
with lower buy-ins, Binion's prophesy came
into fruition and the popularity of the
World Series of Poker soared. But even Benny
Binion, who passed away on Christmas Day
of 1989, would have had difficulty foreseeing
the enormous growth the Horseshoe's annual
tournament has experienced in the past decade
or so.
In 1982, nine years after Mr. Binion participated
in UNR's Oral History Project, the tournament
drew 52 entrants. Five years later, there
were 2,141 participants, and the 2002 event
attracted 7595 entries. The prize money
has increased proportionately, from $7,769,000
a decade ago to a staggering $19,599,230
in 2002. Whereas only 12 events, mostly
Texas hold'em and seven-card stud, were
scheduled as recently as 1988, the 2003
tournament offers 35 competitions that feature
a wide variety of games.
Today, the legacy Benny Binion left the
poker community ranks as the oldest, largest,
most prestigious, and most media-hyped gaming
competition in the world, and no doubt it
holds the promise of an even brighter future.
But equally as important, The World Series
of Poker has touched thousands of lives
over the years, affording talented players
the opportunity to follow their dreams,
reach for the stars, and perhaps one day
achieve greatness in their chosen endeavor.
Thanks and we'll see you at the tables!
KAP
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