The World Series of Poker (WSOP) is more than just high stakes and card games. It’s a place where people from all walks of life compete for glory. Many moments at this prestigious event over the years will go down in poker history as unforgettable.
Chris Moneymaker’s 2003 WSOP Victory
Chris Moneymaker’s 2003 win over the field was undoubtedly the most significant event in the World Series of Poker (WSOP) in terms of its overall impact on the game. It represented the American Dream, which is that anyone can succeed regardless of their background.
A $39 online satellite event was the first step for Chris Moneymaker to get to the WSOP Main Event. He eventually made it through a $600 satellite and got a spot in the Main Event. He won the $2.5 million first prize there, which turned his initial investment into a massive payday.
The “poker boom” was ignited by Moneymaker’s triumph, as thousands of people rushed to online poker rooms hoping to be as successful as him.
Johnny Chan’s “Back-to-Back” Showdown with Erik Seidel (1988)
One of the best players of the 1980s was Johnny Chan, who was called “The Orient Express” because of the speed with which he destroyed his opponents.
After taking first place in the 1987 World Series of Poker Main Event, he won the title again in 1988, making it a back-to-back victory. He accomplished this feat with a meticulously planned trap, which became legendary in the poker film Rounders during his showdown against Erik Seidel.
Scotty Nguyen wins the 1998 WSOP
The 1998 all-in victory of Scotty Nguyen against Kevin McBride is among the most memorable in the game’s history. Nguyen immigrated to California in the middle of the 1970s and had long dreamt of winning big at poker.
Nguyen’s fortunes went up and down like a roller coaster: he was living it up at Caesars Palace and winning hundreds of thousands of dollars every night when he came to the 1998 World Series of Poker.
He was so financially strapped that he couldn’t even afford to enter a little satellite event, but Mike Matusow noticed his promise and chipped in one-third of the buy-in. It turned out to be a good move.
After making it far in the tournament, Nguyen went against Kevin McBride for the championship, and he soon found himself in a commanding chip lead.
The last hand was a famous one. Nguyen went all in with the chip advantage and dared McBride to call.
Nguyen said, “You call, it’s gonna be all over, baby.” When McBride called, Nguyen turned over the winning hand to become the Main Event champion.
Annette Obrestadt became the youngest WSOP bracelet winner in 2007
Annette Obrestadt achieved a remarkable feat just days before turning 19 by emerging victorious in the World Series of Poker Europe, marking the WSOP’s inaugural bracelet tournament held outside of America.
She was a young woman, part of a new generation of assertive online players who were set to revolutionize poker strategy.
Her legacy will forever be marked by her historic achievement at the age of 18 years and 364 days, when she became the youngest world champion in WSOP history, proudly wearing a gold bracelet on her wrist.
Antonio Esfandiari wins $18m in the Big One for One Drop
The Main Event of the World Series of Poker has always been known for its massive first prize money, which is the biggest among all poker tournaments.
However, a separate event of the WSOP, initially organized in 2012, surpassed even these amounts. This event was the highly anticipated Big One for One Drop, organized to support a water charity established by the founder of Cirque du Soleil. The grand prize for this prestigious tournament was a staggering $18 million.
The entry fee for the event reached an unprecedented $1 million per person, as the WSOP generously waived its standard 10% rake. Additionally, a remarkable $111,111 from each participant’s entry was directly contributed to the charity.
The last table featured a star-studded lineup of poker players like Phil Hellmuth, Brian Rast, Sam Trickett, and Richard Yong. However, the ultimate winner of the competition was Antonio Esfandiari.
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