01-21-07, LearnTexasHoldem:

1983 WSOP

From six players in the first World Series of Poker main event, the number of entrants jumped to 108 for the 1983 WSOP championship. A number of factors contributed to this. One was the implementation of a structured payout system. Instead of being winner take all, all of the top finishers would make money, creating more incentive to plunk down $10,000 for your shot at fame. Another was the populist nature of the event. In 1979, poker amateur Hal Fowler won the big one, proving with a little luck, anyone could be poker's annual king. But perhaps the most important innovation to date was the satellite tournament.

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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

The Satellite Was Born

Eric Drache, the manager of the World Series of Poker for years, noticed that the World Series attracted many, many poker players, but that most of them did not feel they could spring for a seat at the main event. Hoping to drum up business, Drache observed the poker room, and noticed that in some games, there was $10,000 or more sitting out on the table. He suggested that one of these games play a winner take all freezeout, with the winner using his winnings to play in the main event. Thus, the satellite was born.

Satellite tournaments allow those without enough money for the tournament entry fee to use their skills to win their way into the event. In a single table satellite for a main event such as the one at the World Series of Poker, each player puts up $1,000 (plus the house fee), with the winner earning a seat to the main event. Super satellites allow multiple tables and multiple seats to the main event, for every group of entry fees that adds up to $10,000, one seat is awarded. There are also step satellites where winning one satellite gets you a seat to a more expensive satellite which can get you a seat in the main event. In the modern era, the vast majority of World Series of Poker main event seats are earned through satellite play.

Wild Card Players

In 1983 though, the satellite was a relatively new concept. Like a wild card team in football, you had an exciting opportunity to participate in the playoffs, but were never expected to go all the way. The 1983 Oakland Raiders would go on to have a Super Bowl championship season. In 1980, that team distinguished itself by being the first team to win the Super Bowl having gotten into the playoffs as a wild card. That feat was about to be duplicated at the 1983 World Series of Poker.

Pocket Queens for McEvoy

Both of the final players, Tom McEvoy and Rod Peate, had won their way into the WSOP main event through satellites, meaning for the first time ever, a player was about to win the World Series of Poker and over half a million dollars without putting up the $10,000 buy in. It was just a matter of which one it would be.

The answer came after seven hours of heads up play when Peate raised into McEvoy's pocket queens. McEvoy came over the top all in and in what was a questionable move, Peate called with KJ suited. Although a jack came on the turn, Peate got no more help. McEvoy became the 1983 World Series of Poker champion and its first satellite champion. He went on to write many best selling books on poker, often with tournament poker legend T.J. Cloutier.

1983 WSOP Tournaments and Winners

EventWinnerPrizeEntrants
$10,000 Championship Event Tom McEvoy $540,000 108
$1,000 Razz John Lucas $43,000 N/A
$1,500 No-Limit Hold'em David Baxter $145,500 N/A
$2,500 A-5 Draw David Angel $46,250 N/A
$1,000 Limit 7-Card Stud Hi-Lo Artie Cobb $52,000 N/A
$800 Mixed Doubles Jim Doman/Donna Doman $10,000 N/A
$1,000 Limit 7-Card Stud Ken Flaton $62,000 N/A
$500 Women's Limit 7-Card Stud Carolyn Gardner $16,000 N/A
$1,000 No-Limit Hold'em Buster Jackson $124,000 N/A
$2,500 Match Play Berry Johnston $40,000 N/A
$1,000 Limit Hold'em Tom McEvoy $117,000 N/A
$1,000 Limit Omaha David Sklansky $25,500 N/A
$1,000 A-5 Draw D Todd $49,500 N/A
$5,000 Limit 7-Card Stud Stu Ungar $110,000 N/A

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

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