01-21-07, LearnTexasHoldem:
1988 WSOP
Top 3 Beginner Rooms
More on the WSOP:
WSOP SatellitesNew 2008 WSOP Events
2008 WSOP Schedule
WSOP Player Profiles
WSOP History
WSOP Winners
H.O.R.S.E.: The Player's Championship
Johnny Chan Back for More
All eyes were on reigning champion Johnny "The Orient Express" Chan as he was poised to take his second consecutive World Series of Poker championship title in 1988. Although this would be a feat duplicated only by Doyle Brunson, Johnny Moss, and Stu Ungar, it was not what made Chan's heads up battle with gifted newcomer Erik Seidel famous. Rather it was the fact that the producers of the movie Rounders, starring Matt Damon and hailed as one of the best poker movies of all time, chose to include the final hand of the 1988 WSOP in the film. Michael McDermott, the film's main character watches the final hand over and over again as he dreams of taking on Chan and the WSOP title. Since many of the newer poker stars cite this movie as their inspiration to take a run at the World Series of Poker themselves, it's likely that this scene has been burned into their brains.
Seidel Trapped
In the hand in question, Chan had maneuvered to a 4 to 1 chip lead. Seidel limped in with Q7, and Chan decided to take a flop with a J9. Chan's heart must have skipped a beat when he flopped the holy city, a Q T 8, giving him the nut straight, but he didn't betray a hint of emotion. Chan made a small bet, and Seidel, with top pair, raised. Rather than taking his shot right there, Chan chose to simply call. The turn brought a deuce, and Chan "playing his man" as the movie explains, checked. Seidel fell for the trap. As fans of Rounders have seen over and over again, Seidel confidently pushed all his chips into the pot and Chan immediately pushed back. He turned over his unbeatable hand and rejoiced as he was crowned the World Series of Poker champion for the second straight year.
Rounders
For a long time after the movie Rounders came out, Seidel, an extremely gifted player, suffered infamy as the unwitting amateur who was helplessly, hopelessly trapped by the savvy Johnny Chan in the 1988 World Series of Poker main event. In recent years, with the popularity of poker exploding and players becoming more knowledgeable, Seidel has gained respect as the multiple WSOP bracelet winner that he is. However, Seidel, like Mike McDermott of Rounders and so many others, will probably not feel truly complete until he wins the big one himself.
1988 WSOP Tournaments and Winners
| Event | Winner | Prize | Entrants |
| $,10,000 Championship Event | Johnny Chan | $700,000 | 167 |
| $1,500 Limit Hold'em | Val Carpenter | $223,800 | 400 |
| $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em | Russ Gibe | $181,800 | 330 |
| $2,500 Pot-Limit Omaha | Gilbert Gross | $181,000 | 111 |
| $5,000 Seven-Card Stud | Thor Hansen | $158,000 | 79 |
| $1,000 Omaha Limit | David Helms | $91,200 | 228 |
| $1,500 Seven-Card Stud Split | Lance Hilt | $123,600 | 206 |
| $500 Women's 7-Card Stud | Loretta Huber | $17,000 | 85 |
| $1,500 Seven-Card Stud | Merrill Hunt | $130,200 | 217 |
| $5,000 2-7 Draw | Seymour Leibowitz | $157,500 | 38 |
| $1,500 A-5 Draw | Johnny Moss | $116,400 | 194 |
| $1,000 Razz | Don Williams | $76,800 | 192 |
WSOP Year By Year
Your rating:
Click on the clover of your choiceTop 5 Poker Rooms
| Full Tilt Poker | Read Review |
|---|---|
| Poker Stars | Read Review |
| PlayersOnly Poker | Read Review |
| Bodog Poker | Read Review |
| Titan Poker | Read Review |