World Series of Poker - WSOP tournament

The World Series of Poker Tournament

The World Series of Poker is the biggest poker tournament in the world and has much to do with increasing the popularity of poker all over the world. Now a massive tournament, some might possible say, too big, everyone who is anyone in the poker and online poker world descends to Las Vegas every July and August for basiclaly what is in effect, the world poker championships. It has come a long way from the first WSOP tournament in 1970 when there were just seven players. At the time, poker wasn't seen as a past time that respectable people took part in. The winner, Johnny Moss, was elected by his fellow players and received a silver cup as a prize.

Once poker took off in the early part of the new century, much due to the online poker craze, the World Series of Poker got more exposure. That television exposure in turn made it even more of a hot topic as poker game sprung out throughout the world. People couldn't get enough of poker as the craze was sprading all over. Players such as Doyle Brunson, Johnny Chan and Phill Hellmuth were now household names just like Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods and Derek Jeter. You had spin offs like the WPT. Novices were frantically work out the hand ranking and if a flush beats a pair.

Over the years it evolved and grew with more poker events added so as various No-Limit Texas Hold'em events as well as various Stud, Omaha and Razz events in addition to special events strictly for women or seniors. After the Binion's Horseshoe was bought by Harrah's Entertainment and renamed just Binion's, most of the tournament was moved to the Reno casino. The WSOP will get even bigger as time goes on.

Donald Brown, 06/10/2005. Editorial Staff.

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