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In 2001, the poker world, which had been growing steadily for years, was on the brink of a major breakout as a result of the popularity of online poker. Party Poker

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

Business as Usual at the WSOP

With an explosion near, everything at the WSOP was still business as usual. The 2001 WSOP main event drew 613 players, each paying $10,000 for a seat at the table. This year's champion was Juan Carlos Mortenson, who earned $1,500,000 by defeating Dewey Tomko is one of the most dramatic final hands in the history of the WSOP. Other notable players finishing in the top 30 of the 2001 WSOP included Phil Helmuth, Alan Cunningham, Mike Sexton, Phil Gordon and Daniel Negreanu. Juan Carlos "El Matador"

Carlos Mortensen

Mortenson is a professional poker player born in Ecuador who is known for his loose betting and bluffing tactics. At the 2001 WSOP, it goes without saying the Mortenson won more on luck than pure skill.

Let's look at the final hand.

Mortenson drew QC KC.

Tomko had AS AH.

Tomko had the best possible hand, pocket rockets, two aces; but Mortenson had a great hand himself, the suited marriage. How would the betting begin? Mortenson began with a moderate $100,000 bet, to which Tomko called.

The flop fell JD 10C 3C.

Interesting Final Hand

The hand was getting more and more interesting, with Mortenson drawing a possible flush and straight draw, yet Tomko was the heavy favorite with his pocket rockets. Who would bet what? Mortenson came with another $100,000, and Tomko raised it up $400,000, and that's all it took to bring Mortenson all-in.

The turn card yielded a 3D, making Tomko one card away from victory. Mortenson needed a 9, A, or a club on the river, and even though the odds were in Tomko's favor, Lady Luck had a crush on "El Matador" that night as the river produced a 9D, thus giving Mortenson his straight, and his first and only WSOP main event bracelet.

Ironically, the year before in the 2000 WSOP, Chris Ferguson won with a nine on the river as well.

2001 WSOP Tournaments and Winners

Event	Winner	Prize	Entrants
$10,000 Championship Event	Carlos Mortensen	$1,500,000	613
$500 Casino Employeess Limit Hold'em	Travis Jonas	$40,200	224
$2,000 Limit Hold'em	Nani Dollison	$441,440	615
$1,500 Omaha Hi-Lo	Chris "Jesus" Ferguson	$164,735	306
$1,500 Seven-Card Stud	Adam Roberts	$146,430	224
$2,000 No-Limit Hold'em	Phil Hellmuth	$316,550	441
$1,500 Limit Omaha	Eddy Scharf	$83,810	144
$1,500 Seven-Card Stud Hi-Lo	Barry Schulman	$123,820	230
$1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha with rebuys	Galen Kester	$167,035	145 (142)
$2,000 S.H.O.E.	David "The Dragon" Pham	$140,455	181
$3,000 Limit Hold'em	Jim Lester	$233,490	192
$2,500 Seven-Card Stud	Paul Darden	$147,440	152
$2,000 Pot-Limit Hold'em	Burt Boutin	$193,800	270
$1,500 Razz	Berry Johnston	$83,810	144
$2,500 Pot-Limit Omaha with rebuys	Scotty Nguyen	$178,480	102 (82)
$2,500 Seven-Card Stud Hi-Lo	Rich Korbin	$159,080	164
$1,500 A-5 Draw Lowball	Cliff Yamagawa	$73,915	127
$2,500 Omaha Hi-Lo	Bob Slezak	$173,625	179
$5,000 2-7 Draw with rebuys	Howard Lederer	$165,870	33 (43)
$1,000 Senior's Championship	Jay Heimowitz	$115,430	340
$3,000 Pot-Limit Hold'em	Steve Zolotow	$243,335	226
$5,000 Seven-Card Stud	Alen Cunningham	$201,760	104
$3,000 No-Limit Hold'em	Erik Seidel	$411,300	382
$5,000 Omaha Hi-Lo	Scotty Nguyen	$207,580	107
$5,000 Limit Texas Hold'em	Hemish Shah	$312,340	161
$1,000 Women's Championship	Nani Dollison	$41,130	106

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