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In 2007, there are few poker players who are not aware of the World Series of Poker. Thousands of players, including hundreds of actors, athletes and poker celebrities, converge upon the main event every year, happy to put down their $10,000 for a shot at poker immortality. What you may not realize is that the WSOP had very humble beginnings, and the very first World Series of Poker in 1970 did not even have a main event.

More on the WSOP:

WSOP Satellites
New 2008 WSOP Events
2008 WSOP Schedule
WSOP Player Profiles
WSOP History
WSOP Winners
H.O.R.S.E.: The Player's Championship

Benny Binion

While the first World Series of Poker officially occurred in 1970, it is tough to say when the idea for the World Series of Poker truly began. It may be said that the history of the WSOP really begins in 1904, with the birth of Benny Binion. Benny, a Texas gambler and consummate businessman, moved to Las Vegas and opened Binion's Horseshoe Casino in downtown Las Vegas in 1951. As a promotional stunt for his casino, he hosted a heads-up match between high stakes gambler Nick "The Greek" Dandalos and Johnny Moss, considered the greatest poker player of his time. The two played nearly non-stop, nearly every type of poker imaginable, and Moss won millions over the months that the game went on, until the famous moment when The Greek finally stood up and said "Mr. Moss, I have to let you go." Binion took careful note of the interest that was taken in the match, and the possibilities of hosting games between greats of the game.

Texas Gambler's Reunion

The next step took place in 1969, when casino man Vic Vickrey hosted a "Texas Gambler's Reunion" to generate publicity for Tom Moore's new Holiday Hotel in Reno. The reunion brought together all the great poker players of the day, and they fiercely competed over all types of poker games. When Binion saw this his germ of an idea sprouted, and he invited the greats to come to Binion's the following year to compete in the inaugural World Series of Poker.

Johnny Moss

Thirty-eight of the game's greats came to participate that year, in five different poker games. There was no doubt who deserved the title of champion, whether it was Texas hold'em, seven card stud, or five card draw, Johnny Moss always emerged triumphant. Just to make sure though, all the players voted (on who they thought the second best player was, since of course they would all vote themselves as the best) and it was official. Johnny Moss was the first World Series of Poker champion.

While Johnny Moss' time was so far behind the current poker explosion that his name is almost lost to history, it is universally agreed by players in his time that "The old man" was the guy to beat. 1970 was the first and only year that the championship was decided by a vote rather than a freezeout no limit Texas hold'em tournament, but the WSOP history books can be proud of their choice. The following year, the first year of the main event, the championship was won convincingly by none other than Johnny Moss.

1970 WSOP Tournaments and Winners

Event	Winner	Prize	Entrants
Championship Event	Johnny Moss	Unknown	38

WSOP Year By Year

2000's	1990's	1980's	1970's
2007 WSOP	1999 WSOP	1989 WSOP	1979 WSOP
2006 WSOP	1998 WSOP	1988 WSOP	1978 WSOP
2005 WSOP	1997 WSOP	1987 WSOP	1977 WSOP
2004 WSOP	1996 WSOP	1986 WSOP	1976 WSOP
2003 WSOP	1995 WSOP	1985 WSOP	1975 WSOP
2002 WSOP	1994 WSOP	1984 WSOP	1974 WSOP
2001 WSOP	1993 WSOP	1983 WSOP	1973 WSOP
2000 WSOP	1992 WSOP	1982 WSOP	1972 WSOP
	1991 WSOP	1981 WSOP	1971 WSOP
	1990 WSOP	1980 WSOP	1970 WSOP