The 1970 World Series of Poker (WSOP)
The first World Series of Poker (WSOP) in 1970 was the start of a new era for poker. It transformed the game from a niche gambling pursuit into a globally recognized sport. Unlike the expansive tournament series seen today, the first WSOP was a modest affair, organized by casino owner Benny Binion at his Horseshoe Casino in Las Vegas. Inspired by the "Texas Gambler's Reunion" held in Reno the previous year, where some of the era's best poker players competed, Binion sought to create a similar gathering but with greater impact.
In 1969, the Texas Gambler's Reunion, hosted by Tom Moore and Vic Vickrey, featured high-stakes cash games with notable figures like Doyle Brunson, Johnny Moss, and Amarillo Slim Preston. Despite attracting top talent, the event failed to generate the financial returns Moore and Vickrey had hoped for. This led them to abandon the idea of future gatherings. Binion knew he could make it work and asked for their blessing to host a similar event in Las Vegas. They agreed, and Binion set up the first WSOP.
The 1970 WSOP was primarily a series of cash games, played in various poker formats such as Five-Card Stud, Seven-Card Stud, Razz, and Texas Hold’em. The Horseshoe Casino, lacking a dedicated poker room, repurposed its baccarat area to host the event. Over the four days, up to 36 players participated, but there were no official tournaments; instead, players competed in individual cash games.
The highlight of the event came not from the gameplay itself but from the voting process that determined the first "World Champion of Poker." Initially, each player was asked to vote for who they thought should be the champion. This resulted in a stalemate as each player voted for themselves. A second round of voting was held in which players could not vote for themselves. This time, Johnny Moss, known as "The Grand Old Man of Poker," emerged as the unanimous choice. Moss was awarded a silver cup and the title of the best poker player, although there was no cash prize for this award.
The results of the 1970 WSOP, particularly the voting process, highlighted the need for a more structured tournament format. Journalist Ted Thackrey Jr. and player Amarillo Slim Preston suggested that a "winner takes all" freezeout tournament would be more compelling, paving the way for the WSOP to evolve into the structured tournament format we see today. This change was designed to make the game more accessible and appealing to a broader audience, setting the stage for the WSOP's future growth and eventual prominence in the poker world.
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