01-21-07, LearnTexasHoldem:

2002 WSOP

In 2002, the WSOP began to take off at a record pace. The final event brought in 631 entrants, each paying $10,000 for a seat at the table.

Top 3 Beginner Rooms

Party Poker

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

Amateurs Taking Over

The final award in 2002 at the main event was $2,000,000, plus over $1,000,000 to the runner-up. Every year from 2002 on, the main event at the WSOP was won by an amateur poker player. 2001 was the last year the main event was won by a professional.

Robert Varkonyi

The 2002 event saw Robert Varkonyi defeating Julian Gardner at the final table. Other notable top 30 finishers included Phil Ivey, Ralph Perry, John Shipley, and Minh Nguyen. Robert Varkonyi is a New York Italian who is now a professional poker player. Varkonyi is also a genius with a graduate degree from MIT. When he won the 2002 main table event he was such a newcomer that Phil Hellmuth agreed to shave his head if Varkonyi won.

Let's look at the hand that made Hellmuth shave his head.

Varkonyi was dealt a QD 10S.

Gardner sat with a JC 8C.

Varkonyi raised to $90,000 before the flop and Gardner called.

The flop played QC 4C 4S.

Two-pair vs. Flush Draw

This would turn out to be interesting. Varkonyi had two pairs, with the high pair of Queens, but Gardner was looking at a flush draw. Should Gardner chase the flush? Would you? He tried to get a free card by checking. Varkonyi bet carefully, only $50,000, and Gardner decided to bluff by going all-in. Varkonyi called.

The turn yielded a 10D, giving Varkonyi a pair of Queens and a pair of tens. Gardner still had many outs with the flush draw. The river indeed produced a flush card, but unfortunately for Gardner it was a 10C, giving him a flush, but giving Varkonyi a full house and the 2002 championship bracelet.

2002 WSOP Tournaments and Winners

EventWinnerPrizeEntrants
$10,000 Championship Event Robert Varkonyi $2,000,000 631
$500 Casino Employees Limit Hold'em David Warga $47,300 272
$2,000 Limit Hold'em Mike Majerus $407,120 272
$1,500 Limit Omaha Hi-Lo Perry Friedman $176,860 339
$2,000 No-Limit Hold'em Layne Flack $303,880 449
$1,500 Seven-Card Stud Phil Ivey $132,000 253
$1,500 Limit Omaha "Miami" John Cernuto $73,320 130
$1,500 7-Card Stud Hi-Lo Paul "Eskimo" Clark $125,200 240
$2,500 No-Limit Holdem (Gold Bracelet Match Play) Johnny Chan $34,000 N/A
$1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha Jack Duncan $192,560 151
$2,000 H.O.R.S.E. John Hennigan $117,320 156
$2,000 Pot-Limit Hold'em Jay Sipelstein $150,240 216
$2,500 Seven-Card Stud Dan Torla $115,600 123
$3,000 Limit Hold'em John Holm $174,840 155
$1,500 Razz Bill Baxter $64,860 115
$2,500 Pot-Limit Omaha with rebuys Jan Sorensen $185,000 89 (73)
$2,500 7-Card Stud Hi-Lo Phil Ivey $118,440 126
$3,000 Pot-Limit Hold'em Fred Berger $197,400 175
$1,500 A-5 Draw Lowball Thor Hansen $62,600 111
$1,500 No-Limit Hold'em Layne Flack $268,020 528
$2,500 Omaha Hi-Lo Eddie Fischman $135,360 144
$1,500 Pot-Limit Hold'em John McIntosh $177,380 340
$5,000 Seven-Card Stud Qushqar Morad $172,960 92
$2,000 S.H.O.E. Phil Ivey $107,540 143
$5,000 Limit Hold'em Jennifer Harman $212,440 113
$1,500 Limit Hold'em Shootout Joel Chaseman $96,400 193
$1,000 Women's ½ Holdem ½ Stud Catherine Brown $39,880 107
$5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Robert Williamson III $201,160 107
$1,500 Limit Hold'em Meng La $190,920 366
$5,000 Omaha Hi-Lo Mike Matusow $148,520 79
$3,000 No-Limit Hold'em Randal Heeb $367,240 352
$2,000 Hold'em/7-Card Stud Dan Heimiller $108,300 144
$5,000 No-Limit 2-7 Draw with rebuys Allen Cunningham $160,200 32 (34)
$1,000 Seniors No-Limit Hold'em Bill Swan $134,000 396
$1,500 A-5 Triple Draw Lowball John Juanda $49,620 88

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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