It doesn’t matter where you play your favorite poker game. Whether at the casino or in your home via the internet, it is undeniable that the World Series of Poker made you fall in love with this game. Benny Binion is the brains behind WSOP, and it’s implausible that he didn’t know the impact his creation would make in the World of Poker.
The WSOP started in 1970 after Benny invited seven players for a game. History lovers can also trace the origin of WSOP to the colossal five-month struggle between Dandolos, Nick ‘The Greek’, and Johnny Moss in 1949 and the Texas Gambling Reunion. The WSOP has grasped the mind of poker players and audiences worldwide since its official launch.
The Show-Stopping Game in Town
The face-off between Moss and Dandalos was impressive, causing it to feature in an important chapter in the Poker game’s history. Many people shared their stories regarding this 1949 epic poker battle. These stories show in detail how everything went down for the five months. However, most people never discussed or captured the spectacle this clash created. Although many table games were famous before, this game became a public sensation and birthed poker tournaments.
How the Game Started and Ended
According to stories shared then, Nick “The Greek” came to Vegas in search of the biggest game in 1949. Binion contacted Johnny Moss, an old buddy, to come for the game with $4 million at stake. As the two players continued battling in the five-card stud, Dandalos appeared to have the upper hand early in the game. However, he was overpowered by Moss eventually. This game gave the world an exceptional taste of world-class players going against each other for cash. This further helped in giving breath to Binion’s WSOP blueprint.
The many online poker game variants that are popular in top-rated casinos have their roots in this great poker game. You can visit https://www.tightpoker.com/best-online-poker-sites/ to find the best sites with such great poker games. From this site, you will also know what to expect from the best poker sites as well as explore the various poker bonuses that are available. If you are a beginner, you will also be introduced to the best poker sites for novices.
The Beginning of Poker’s Golden Age
After noticing the demand for top-notch high-stakes duels, Binion started creating a structure for the world-renowned World Series of Poker. The first WSOP game was featured in 1970, with the stage prepared for players ready to battle it out for the top prize. Unfortunately, six contestants didn’t stand a chance to succeed in this major tournament. The WSOP winner in that year was determined unconventionally, as participants democratically chose Johnny Moss as the tournament’s best player. This made him an undisputed poker champion, considering his first win against Dandalos in 1949.
After the first tournament, Binion changed the game’s rules. He put a condition that the last man standing in the game would be the winner in the coming year. Players had to pay $5000 each to take part in the tournament. In 1971, Johnny Moss retained his winning streak by taking other players’ bets. However, things changed because in 1972, Thomas ‘Amarillo Slim’ Preston, a trash-talker and charismatic player, became the winner. Preston remains a great inspiration for poker players today.
The Impressive Growth of WSOP
WSOP was first televised on CBS Sports in 1973, and that year, Puggy Pearson triumphed over 13 players. In 1978, the pot had to be split between five players, forcing another rule change. In 1979 an amateur, Hal Fowler, won the championship. From that moment, poker and WSOP became an attraction to ordinary people. Thousands of people became interested in learning, playing, and competing in poker tournaments, and this trend continues till today.
In Summation
The WSOP popularized poker to most people and turned many into players. Hal Fowler’s win against poker professionals also proved that amateurs could also succeed in poker games and tournaments. This attracted many people to poker. The WSOP has caused the emergence of many other poker tournaments. With the advent of technology, poker games and tournaments continue to spread across the world via online platforms, and their impact is felt across the gaming and casino world.
Leave a Comment