A Brief History of the World Series of Poker
A Brief History of the World Series of Poker
The World Series of Poker (WSOP) is now a high profile poker tournament that takes place annually in Las Vegas. However, the first event in 1970 involved only seven players and it was not until the early 1980s, when the WSOP introduced satellite tournaments, that the event drew greater than fifty people. By the mid-1980s, this number had grown to over 2,000.
Television coverage of the series began as early as 1973 in the form of a documentary-style special narrated by Jimmy "The Greek" Snyder, the legendary Las Vegas bookie and American sports commentator. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, CBS continued to provide light coverage of the event, which included tape-delayed broadcast of the final table some years.
In the late 1980s, ESPN took over duties from CBS and began providing fans extensive coverage of the event, albeit primitive compared to modern accessibility. The Discovery Channel briefly covered the event from 2000-2001 but ESPN resumed the reigns just as the poker phenomenon was erupting.
The Internet was changing the poker landscape. The game was more accessible to the masses than it ever been. Thanks to numerous online poker rooms, people from all over the world could play poker for money at any time. This created a sensation that has peaked but remains very much alive today.
As this phenomenon began its ascent, interest in The World Series of Poker, poker's highest profile game, ascended with it. ESPN was ready every step of the way to increase coverage to meet demand and even orchestrated a delayed final table in 2008 in order to maximize ratings. Most years viewers will have knowledge of the winner ahead of time, sapping some of the drama from broadcast. In 2006, the WSOP peaked with 8,773 players participating.
Although fans are likely to remember the events from 2002-2008 as the WSOP's signature moments, the event has a long and illustrious history. For instance, we pay great attention to the non-professionals who have won or come close to winning the final table. However, the first non-pro to win was Hal Fowler and he did it back in 1979. Some WSOP historians assert that Benny Binnion, the father of the WSOP, had to lend him the money for the entry fee.
During the 2000 WSOP, female poker player Annie Duke made it to the final ten, just four short of the final table that year. Therefore, in 2006, when Annie Duke got as far as the final 88, ESPN celebrated her success. One of their announcers even commented that Duke might be the first woman to reach the final table. However, the truth is that Barbara Enright had already become a legend earning that distinction in 1995.
Likewise, fans often believe that famous World Series of Poker participant Johnny Chan is the only player to reach the final two, three years in a row. However, Tennessee native Puggy Pearson was the first to do that back in 1971, 1972, and 1973. When he finally won the event in 1973, he also became the first non-Texan to accomplish the feat.
The World Series of Poker (WSOP) is now a high profile poker tournament that takes place annually in Las Vegas. However, the first event in 1970 involved only seven players and it was not until the early 1980s, when the WSOP introduced satellite tournaments, that the event drew greater than fifty people. By the mid-1980s, this number had grown to over 2,000.
Television coverage of the series began as early as 1973 in the form of a documentary-style special narrated by Jimmy "The Greek" Snyder, the legendary Las Vegas bookie and American sports commentator. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, CBS continued to provide light coverage of the event, which included tape-delayed broadcast of the final table some years.
In the late 1980s, ESPN took over duties from CBS and began providing fans extensive coverage of the event, albeit primitive compared to modern accessibility. The Discovery Channel briefly covered the event from 2000-2001 but ESPN resumed the reigns just as the poker phenomenon was erupting.
The Internet was changing the poker landscape. The game was more accessible to the masses than it ever been. Thanks to numerous online poker rooms, people from all over the world could play poker for money at any time. This created a sensation that has peaked but remains very much alive today.
As this phenomenon began its ascent, interest in The World Series of Poker, poker's highest profile game, ascended with it. ESPN was ready every step of the way to increase coverage to meet demand and even orchestrated a delayed final table in 2008 in order to maximize ratings. Most years viewers will have knowledge of the winner ahead of time, sapping some of the drama from broadcast. In 2006, the WSOP peaked with 8,773 players participating.
Although fans are likely to remember the events from 2002-2008 as the WSOP's signature moments, the event has a long and illustrious history. For instance, we pay great attention to the non-professionals who have won or come close to winning the final table. However, the first non-pro to win was Hal Fowler and he did it back in 1979. Some WSOP historians assert that Benny Binnion, the father of the WSOP, had to lend him the money for the entry fee.
During the 2000 WSOP, female poker player Annie Duke made it to the final ten, just four short of the final table that year. Therefore, in 2006, when Annie Duke got as far as the final 88, ESPN celebrated her success. One of their announcers even commented that Duke might be the first woman to reach the final table. However, the truth is that Barbara Enright had already become a legend earning that distinction in 1995.
Likewise, fans often believe that famous World Series of Poker participant Johnny Chan is the only player to reach the final two, three years in a row. However, Tennessee native Puggy Pearson was the first to do that back in 1971, 1972, and 1973. When he finally won the event in 1973, he also became the first non-Texan to accomplish the feat.
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