01-21-07, LearnTexasHoldem:

1997 WSOP

The 1997 World Series of Poker was held at Binion's Horseshoe. It was the first and only event held outdoors, right out on Fremont Street for the world to watch, rather than inside the casino.

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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 Return of Stu Ungar

This year's WSOP belonged to Stu Ungar. His win marked a triumphant return for the poker ace. Ungar, a two-time winner, last won in 1981. Then he spent many years abusing drugs, only to return to bittersweet glory in the 1997 event. The 1997 final event had 312 participants, each paying $10,000 to enter. Stu Ungar's final opponent was John Strzemp.

Here is how the final hand went:

Stu Ungar sat with an AH 4C.
John Strzemp drew an AS 8C.

They both had similar hands so when Ungar raised to $40,000, Strzemp called the bet. There was no reason to re-raise so they prepared for a flop which would make things really interesting. The flop played: AC 5D 3H. Okay. Both players had a pair of aces. Strzemp had the higher kicker, but Ungar had a straight draw, all he needed was a 2.

What would they bet? Strzemp bet $120,000, and Ungar moved all-in. Ungar didn't think that Strzemp had the higher kicker. Strzemp called the all-in bet and they waited.

Straight on the River

The turn came to be a 3D giving both players two pairs, and the river was, you guessed it, a 2S, thus giving Ungar a straight draw A to 5, and his third WSOP championship, this time for a cool $1,000,000.

Other notable players finishing in the top 30 included Phil Hellmuth and Doyle Brunson.

1997 WSOP Tournaments and Winners

EventWinnerPrizeEntrants
$,10,000 Championship Event Stu Ungar $1,000,000 312
$1,000 Women's 7-Card Stud Susie Isaacs $38,000 95
$5,000 Limit Hold'em Bob Veltri $224,000 112
$5,000 Seven-Card Stud Mel Judah $176,000 88
$3,000 No-Limit Hold'em Max Stern $237,615 217
$5,000 No-Limit 2-7 Draw with rebuys Johnny Chan $164,250 32 (41)
$3,000 Pot-Limit Hold'em Phil Hellmuth $204,000 170
$3,000 Omaha 8 or Better Dean Stonier $145,200 121
$3,000 Limit Hold'em Louis Asmo $231,600 193
$2,500 Seven-Card Stud Split Max Stern $117,000 117
$2,500 Pot-Limit Omaha with rebuys Matthias Rohnacher $183,000 87 (96)
$2,500 Seven-Card Stud Vasilis Lazarou $169,000 169
$2,000 Pot-Limit Hold'em David "Devilfish" Ulliot $180,310 247
$2,000 Omaha 8 or Better Scotty Nguyen $156,950 215
$2,000 No-Limit Hold'em "Miami" John Cernuto $259,150 355
$1,500 Seven Card Stud Split Doug Saab $130,305 238
$1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha with rebuys Chris Björin $169,200 140 (142)
$1,500 Seven-Card Stud Maria Stern $140,708 257
$1,500 Limit Omaha Claude Cohen $110,400 184
$1,500 Razz Linda Johnson $96,000 160
$2,000 Limit Hold'em Kevin Song $397,120 544

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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