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Among many other things, 2004 was absolutely the breakout year for poker. The online poker boom was in full bloom and WSOP became a legitimate sporting event, equivalent to the Kentucky Derby, or the Indy 500. 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

Record Number of Entrants

In 2004, there were a record 2,576 entrants to the WSOP, with most of the players winning through online satellite poker tournaments. Each of the top 5 finishers in the 2004 WSOP earned over a million dollars, with Greg Raymer, the winner, clearing a whopping $5,000,000 when he defeated David Williams, who earned $3.5 million as runner-up.

WSOP - a Force beyond Control

The WSOP was a force beyond control. Most of the top finishers were relatively unknown, although Dan Harrington and Chris Ferguson both finished in the top 30. Greg Raymer became a pro after his 2004 victory. He won his entry into the WSOP event through a $160 satellite tournament sponsored by Poker Stars, just like Chris Moneymaker the year before. Raymer was originally a patent lawyer for 10 years. Let's look at his winning hand in the 2004 WSOP main event.

Raymer was dealt a 8D 8S.

Williams had a AH 4S.

David Williams bet $300,000 with an ace high and Raymer called with pocket 8's.

The flop produced 4D 2D 5S.

Williams looked good with a low pair of 4s, and a possible straight draw. Raymer, after much deliberation checked, while Williams bet $500,000.

Raymer then raised to $1,600,000.

Greg Raymer WSOP Champion

The turn produced a 2H giving Raymer a high two pairs and an edge. Raymer took advantage of the pair and bet $2,500,000. Williams called and the river produced another two, this one the 2C. Both players had a full house, but Raymer, with two in the pocket, had the advantage and won the bounty in one of the trickiest final hands in memory.

2004 WSOP Tournaments and Winners

Event	Winner	Prize	Entrants
$10,000 Championship Event	Greg Raymer	$5,000,000	2,576
$500 Casino Emplyee's Limit Hold'em	Carl Nessel	$40,000	279
$2,000 No-Limit Hold'em	James Vogl	$400,000	834
$1,500 Seven-Card Stud	Ted Forrest	$111,440	258
$1,500 Limit Hold'em	Aaron Katz	$234,940	608
$1,500 Omaha Hi-Lo Split	Curtis Bibb	$160,000	374
$1,500 Pot-Limit Hold'em	Minh Nguyen	$155,420	363
$1,000 No-Limit Hold'em with rebuys	Gerry Drehobl	$365,900	538 (796)
$2,000 Pot-Limit Omaha with rebuys	Chau Giang	$187,920	145 (156)
$1,500 No-Limit Hold'em	Scott Fischman	$300,000	831
$2,000 Seven-Card Stud Hi-Lo	Cyndy Violette	$135,900	224
$2,500 Limit Hold'em	Eli Balas	$174,440	237
$2,000 H.O.R.S.E.	Scott Fischman	$100,200	166
$5,000 No-Limit Hold'em	Thomas Keller	$382,020	254
$1,500 Seven-Card Stud Hi-Lo	Hasan Habib	$93,060	213
$2,000 Limit Hold'em	Daniel Negreanu	$169,100	287
$5,000 No-Limit 2-7 Draw with rebuys	Barry Greenstein	$296,200	46 (107)
$1,500 Limit Hold'em Shootout	Kathy Liebert	$110,180	240
$1,500 No-Limit Hold'em Shootout	Phi Nguyen	$180,000	400
$2,000 Omaha Hi-Lo	Annie Duke	$137,860	234
$1,000 Ladies Limit Hold'em	Huong Doan	$58,530	201
$2,000 Pot-Limit Hold'em	Antonio Esfandiari	$184,860	324
$5,000 Omaha Hi-Lo World Championship	Brett Jungblut	$187,720	121
$1,500 No-Limit Hold'em	Ted Forrest	$300,300	834
$5,000 7-Card Stud World Championship	Joe Awada	$221,000	144
$3,000 Pot-Limit Hold'em	Gavin Griffin	$270,420	316
$1,500 Razz	T.J. Cloutier	$90,500	195
$1,000 2-7 Triple Draw with rebuys	Farzad Bonyadi	$86,980	82 (153)
$1,000 Seniors No-Limit Hold'em	Gary Gibbs	$136,960	519
$5,000 Limit Hold'em	John Hennigan	$325,360	213
$3,000 No-Limit Hold'em	Mike Sica	$503,160	651
$5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha with rebuys	Ted Lawson	$500,000	145 (167)
$1,500 A-5 Draw Lowball	Norm Ketchum Jr.	$84,500	184

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