WSOP RETRO: 20 Years and 20 Changes at the World Series of Poker

July 8, 2020
WSOP RETRO: 20 Years and 20 Changes at the World Series of Poker

The World Series of Poker in Las Vegas is considered the mecca for the poker world. Since 1970, players put up large amounts of cash to chase gold bracelets. The Coronavirus pandemic changed those this year’s live tournament scene. 

However, WSOP.com is holding the first strictly online bracelet series in a partnership with GGPoker. There has been major debate over the changes among players. 

Poker continues to be an evolving game and the tournament poker world has transformed over the past 20 years. PokerGO is now offering viewers a chance to look back at some of these series. WSOP Classic runs through July 24. Viewers will find daily, exclusive footage for series from 2003-10.

With that in mind, USPoker offers the WSOP Retro series throughout the WSOP Online. Here’s a look at some of those changes at the WSOP throughout the last two decades.

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2000 – Massive fields welcome in Y2K

The beginning of big field poker. The 2000 WSOP was the first time the Main Event saw more than 500 entries. This was a big step from the six contestants who entered in 1971.

Chris Ferguson becomes a poker hero winning the Main Event for $1.5 million. He’s become a poker villain later after Black Friday.

2001 – Record attendance, millions of dollars

This year showed that large tournament fields from the previous year were not a fluke. The Main Event produced 613 entrants. That was the largest live poker tournament ever played at the time.

Also notable was the fact that for the first time in poker history, the 2001 Main Event paid out two $1 million dollar payouts in one tournament. Carlo Mortensen took down the Main Event for $1.5 million and Dewey Tomko took second for $1.1 million

2002 – Hole card cam changes the course of poker history

A new invention called the “hole card camera” changes the game forever.As the name implies, the cameras allow the viewer to see a player’s hole cards. For the first time, others get a peek into the mind of some of the top players in the world.

This inside view has helped launch poker as a spectator sport. The World Poker Tour first used hole card cameras in 2002. The WSOP was late to the party but made use of the cameras a bit in 2002.

New York poker amateur Robert Varkonyi becomes the Main Event’s first $2 million winner.

2003 – A perfect storm for the Moneymaker boom

Online satellite winners and sponsorships become huge at the series. Following the introduction of hole cameras, Chris Moneymaker won a PokerStars satellite entry into the Main Event.

With poker experiencing massive popularity kickstarted by the WPT in 2002, the series was huge on ESPN. Moneymaker’s story from poker amateur satellite qualifier to WSOP champion helped launch the “poker boom.”

The boom also brings the rise of “poker celebrities” like Phil Hellmuth and Daniel Negreanu. Online poker also explodes around the world.

2004 – Change ahead for the WSOP after purchase

Harrahs (now Caesars Entertainment) purchased the rights to the WSOP. The series was created in 1970 by Benny Binion at the Horseshoe in downtown Vegas.

The purchase sets in motion plans to move and expand the festival. Big fields continue as the Main Event goes from 839 players in 2003 to 2,576 in 2004. Greg Raymer tops the field for a $5 million payday.

2005 – Rio welcomes series

One of the pivotal moments in the history of the WSOP came when the series moved to the Rio All-Suites Hotel and Casino. More gaming space meant more tournaments with players from around the world finding even more action.

The WSOP Circuit was also introduced allowing players around the country to vie for championship rings.

2006 – Reese rides the $50K HORSE

Chip Reese won the inaugural $50,000 HORSE tournament. The event is now known as the Poker Player’s Championship and is one of the most prestigious WSOP events.

This is also the height of the poker boom, yielding a record 8,773 Main Event entries. Jaime Gold takes the top spot for a record $12 million

2007 – Deepstack poker gains major traction

The birth of deepstack poker goes mainstream. In 2007, the WSOP doubled the starting stack of 20,000 chips in the Main Event.

The series also expanded to Europe with a series in the United Kingdom. This was the first time in WSOP history a bracelet was won outside of Las Vegas.

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2008 – Building hype for the final table

The controversial “November Nine” begins. The WSOP began suspending the Main Event final table in July. Players are then allowed to train and prepare for a showdown in November.

The idea also allowed ESPN and Caesars to heavily promote the final table. The concept received mixed reviews but continued through 2016. Peter Eastgate won the first November Nine final table for $9.2 million.

 

2009 – Bye-bye rebuys

The WSOP eliminated “rebuy” events and later changed to a re-entry style. The series also tripled starting stacks, further adding the concept of deepstack style poker in the series.

With 6,012 entries, the WSOP sets a record for the biggest live event outside of the Main Event. The $1,000Stimulus Bracelet Tournament” event was named after stimulus checks Americans received during the economic downturn.

Steve Sung won the event for $771,106 and the event portends more smaller buy-in events to come with massive fields.

2010 – WSOP goes intercontinental

Expansion continued for the WSOP when Johannesburg, South Africa, hosted two bracelet events. 

The $50,000 HORSE event was changed. The Poker Players Championship became an eight-game style format and has maintained that every year since.

2011 – Tuning in for even more coverage

For the first time ever, the final table of the Main Event was shown live in its entirety on ESPN. The entire 55-event schedule was also shown via ESPN, WSOP.com, and ESPN3.com.

2012 – Seven-figure buy-in and a huge score for ‘The Magician’

A $1 million dollar buy-in bracelet event is organized by Cirque Du Soleil founder Guy Laliberte. The Big One for One Drop had $111,111 of each buy-in donated to the One Drop Foundation, which offers clean water initiatives worldwide.

Poker pro Antonio Esfandiari took the title for $18.3 million.He remains a major name in poker and a frequent ESPN analyst.

 

In the Main Event, Greg Merson scored the title and $8.5 million. That came after also winning a $10,000 event that summer for $1.1 million.

2013 – WSOP Asia-Pacific, masterful comeback in Main Event

Following the success of the Big One for One Drop, the charity concept expanded to the masses. The Little One for One Drop is created with a $1,111 buy-in. 

Sweden’s Martin Jacobson began the Main Event final table eighth in chips but rallied to take the bracelet and $10 million.

The series also expanded for the third time and went down under. The Asia-Pacific WSOP takes place in Melbourne, Australia, and awarded five bracelets.

2014 – Millionaire Maker 

Another year, another new record. Large player pools for low buy-in events continually grow. The $1,500 Millionaire Maker attracted 7,977 entries – a new non-Main Event record.

The event pays out $1.3 million to the winner, New York’s Jonathan Dimmig.

2015 – Bargain prices for big fields

Low buy-ins continue to attract large crowds. The series offers several events to attract “weekend warriors” looking for a shot at poker glory.

One of those events is the $565 Colossus. This was the lowest-priced event since 1980 and produced a colossal 22,374 entrants. This was the largest live tournament in the history of poker.

A 65 and older Super Seniors bracelet event was also added with 70-year-old Jon Andlovec winning the inaugural tournament. The WSOP Circuit events also went international, debuting in five different continents.

Daniel Negreanu also just missed making the Main Event final table, finishing 11th. An appearance would have brought in even bigger numbers for television. Pennsylvania’s Joe McKeehen wins for $7.7 million.

2016 – Tag team, back again

Back from the dead, the first tag team event since 1983 is reprised as a bracelet event. The $1,000 tournament proves popular and continues to find a place on the schedule. 

2017 – End of an era, online bracelets added, PokerGO launches

The November Nine is no more as the Main Event play resumes in its original format.

Also, for the first time ever online bracelets are offered to players in Nevada. With so many players in town for events, the series hopes the added events give a boost to WSOP.com.

Three events were launched on WSOP.com. Joseph Mitchell, of Las Vegas, became the first online winner after taking down a $333 event for $122,314.

Poker Central also signs a four-year deal with the WSOP to stream live events throughout the series on its PokerGO service. Fans now see more live coverage than ever before.

2018 – Big blind format, Doyle exits with a final table appearance

The “big blind ante” format had been introduced at several casinos over the last year and the WSOP introduced the format into limited events. 

Poker Hall of Famer and 10-time bracelet winner Doyle Brunson announces he will be playing his last WSOP event in the $10,00Deuce to Seven Championship. That included a memorable final table appearance.

2019 – Biggest crowds to date as series celebrates 50 years

Multi-flight tournaments have now become a new normal at the WSOP. The Big 50 becomes another huge event to commemorate the series’ 50th anniversary.

The $500 buy-in event becomes the largest live poker tournament in history with 28,371 players.

2020 – Live series delayed, bracelet hunting shifts online

The WSOP announces that all summer events are postponed to the fall due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

Instead, 85 bracelet events will be offered through WSOP.com and GGPoker. This becomes the first year players outside the US can win a bracelet online.

For a complete review of WSOP.com, click here for New Jersey and click here for Nevada. Find a complete review of GGPoker here.

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