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The 1991 World Series of Poker marked the beginning of a new decade and a new era. For the first time, the first place winner would receive a million dollars, a number that would stand until the record fields of the 21st century would bring even more money to the winner. It was also the first time the attendance for the event rose over 200 players, another milestone which the WSOP would never dip below.

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H.O.R.S.E.: The Player's Championship

Brad Daugherty - A Man on a Mission

This was the World Series that found Brad Daugherty vying for the championship. Daugherty was a man on a mission. After hearing about Doyle Brunson's victory in the 1977 WSOP main event, Daugherty decided that tournament poker was for him. He moved to Reno and got a job as a dealer, with the idea of eventually becoming a full time poker player. While Daugherty became an excellent student of the game, the poker gods can be fickle, and Daugherty would not have even been able to enter the 1991 series if not for the timely intervention of future champion Huck Seed, who backed Daugherty for a 40% stake in whatever he won.

Staked by Huck Seed

This "Seed money" turned out to be a wise investment, as after hour after grueling hour of play, Daugherty found himself in the final six, the "T.V." final table. Daugherty had earned his entry fee, but was one of the smaller stacks at the table. Still, determination and a little luck can go a long way.

The luck came in the form of a big hand involving the chip leader at the time, an ex-roofer named Robert Veltri. Veltri raised, and Daugherty looked down at AK. On a short stack, and with a hand that could only be dominated by AA or KK, Daugherty moved in. Perry Green, no doubt suspecting that Daugherty could move in with a wide variety of cards and realizing that the chip leader's raise did not necessarily represent strength, moved in with 88.

Unfortunately for Green, Veltri did have a big hand, JJ, and called. An ace came on the board, allowing Daugherty to triple up while Veltri eliminated Green. Retiree Don Holt took care of the fourth player remaining, Don Williams, when Holt, holding AT, caught Williams moving all in with A9. Veltri, who was looking strong all day, was the next to go. He held KQ against Daugherty's KJ, but the tables were turned when a flop of Q T 9 gave Veltri top pair, but Daugherty the nut straight. Then it was just Daugherty and Holt. On a flop of 8 9 J, Holt made the ill advised decision to bluff at the pot with a harmless 7 3.

Bad Time for a Bluff

Holt moved all his chips into the middle. Holt was to be credited for such a bold move, but his timing was poor. Daugherty held KJ, giving him top pair with a strong kicker. He called, and Holt, needing a ten or some running miracle cards, was in big trouble. When the turn and river brought another 8 and a 5, Brad Daugherty had finally realized the dream that was born when Doyle Brunson had won the big one nearly fifteen years earlier. Daugherty held the gold bracelet as the 1991 World Series of Poker champion.

1991 WSOP Tournaments and Winners

Event	Winner	Prize	Entrants
$,10,000 Championship Event	Brad Daugherty	$1,000,000	215
$1,500 Omaha 8 or Better	Joe Becker	$119,400	199
$2,500 No-Limit Hold'em	Doyle Brunson	$208,000	208
$1,500 No-Limit Hold'em	Brent Carter	$166,800	278
$5,000 Seven-Card Stud	Thomas Chung	$355,000	71
$1,500 Seven-Card Stud	Artie Cobb	$146,400	244
$1,500 A-5 Draw	Pat Flanagan	$106,800	178
$1,500 Seven-Card Stud Split	Mike Hart	$106,200	177
$5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha	Jay Heimowitz	$126,000	63
$1,500 Omaha Limit	Phil Heinrich	$92,000	154
$1,500 Limit Hold'em	Max Lindel	$256,000	427
$2,500 Seven-Card Stud	Rodney Pardey	$133,000	133
$5,000 2-7 Draw	John Spadavecchia	$58,500	26
$2,500 Limit Hold'em	Ron Stanley	$203,000	203
$1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha	An "The Boss" Tran	$87,600	146
$500 Women's 7-Card Stud	Donna Ward	$28,200	141
$5,000 Limit Hold'em	Bryan "Cowboy" Wolford	$210,000	105
$1,500 Razz	Charles Wight	$92,400	154

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