World Series Of Poker
WSOP Article
The initial WSOP was started in 1969 by Tom Moore of San Antonio, Texas at the Holiday Hotel and Casino in Reno and was an invitational event.
This first event was won by Crandell Addington who went on to place eight times in the top ten of the World Series Of Poker Main Event. This is an achievement that still stands in 2006, and will never be broken.
The set of tournaments the of Poker would evolve to was the brainchild of Las Vegas legend, casino owner, and poker player Benny Binion as well as his two sons Jack and Ted. The Binion family not only developed the World Series Of Poker, but poker in general. Prior to the 1970s, poker was not found at many land based casinos because of the difficulty of keeping cheaters out.
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Through better security techniques as well as the Binion's tireless promotion through events like the World Series Of Poker, poker became a very popular game. In 1970 the first WSOP at Binion's Horseshoe took place as a series of games that included five card stud, deuce to seven low-ball draw, razz, seven card stud, and Texas Hold-em.
The format for the Main Event as a freeze-out Texas Hold-em game came the following year. The in 1970, Johnny Moss was elected by his fellow poker players as the first World Champion of Poker and received a silver as a prize.