The Genesis in Texas Gamblers Reunion
It all began the year before, in the summer of 1969. Tom Moore, owner of the Holiday Casino in Reno, Nevada, organized the Texas Gamblers Reunion – a meeting of well-known gamblers. The goal was a series of high-stakes cash games with titans like Doyle Brunson, Thomas “Amarillo Slim” Preston, Johnny Moss, and Benny Binion. No tournaments, just endless games in variants like Texas Hold'em, Stud, Razz, and Lowball.
After a week, the player with the largest bankroll was Crandell Addington, which crowned him the winner. Although players praised the event, Moore declined to continue as it brought no financial return.
Benny Binion, owner of Binion's Horseshoe in Las Vegas, saw an opportunity Moore missed. Taking the reins with his son Jack, he created the now-legendary festival. He moved the series to Las Vegas and renamed it the World Series of Poker. Binion understood that poker needed a show, and a clash of the world's best players could deliver it.
First Winner Elected by Peers
WSOP 1970 took place on May 8th, 1970 at Binion's Horseshoe, Las Vegas. There was no grand opening, no crowd, just seven elite gamblers: Johnny Moss, Doyle Brunson, Amarillo Slim Preston, Puggy Pearson, Sailor Roberts, Crandell Addington, and Carl Cannon. However, the total attendance was reportedly much higher, with Doyle Brunson's autobiography “Godfather of Poker” mentioning up to 38 players, from which the final seven emerged.
Cash games were played in various formats: Seven Card Stud, Five Card Stud, Razz, 2-7 Lowball Draw, and Texas Hold'em. No tournaments, no buy-ins. Just endless games in the back of the casino to determine the “best player in the world.” It is said they played for ten days, followed by a democratic vote to decide the winner.
The legend of determining the first WSOP winner remains. The first round of voting? Each player voted for themselves, leading to a tie! In the next round, Jack Binion proposed that each vote for the second-best player. Johnny Moss won decisively, becoming the first world champion.
Stories about players' egos preventing them from choosing anyone else may not be true. Doyle Brunson later mentioned that not everyone voted for themselves during the process.
Johnny Moss – The First World Champion
Johnny Moss, dubbed the "Grand Old Man of Poker," was already a living legend. With decades of brutal cash games and heads-up duels behind him, his poker prowess was renowned, and his respect among players immense. It was natural and symbolic that he became the first holder of the world champion title.
What did Johnny Moss win for his title? No gold bracelet (those started in 1976), no millions. Only a silver cup and the glory of being the first World Series of Poker champion. He later bolstered this by adding two more Main Event titles.
The Beginning of Something Monumental
WSOP 1970 was a wild, unorganized, and in some ways, naive start. Nonetheless, it was a pivotal moment that changed poker forever. From a small group of gamblers in Binion's Horseshoe, it evolved into an event that today attracts tens of thousands of players and millions of fans globally. And it all began with a single vote for a champion. Without Binion or the tie-breaking myth, poker might have remained in the shadows of saloons.
Sources: WSOP, Wikipedia, PokerListings, Dallas Morning News
