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The biggest and most famous series of tournament in the world.

The World Series of Poker, called WSOP, is the event of the year in the world of poker.
The main goal of all players is to become a winner of a champion's bracelet and of course to win the title of the world champion of the Main Event.
WSOP is also the oldest and thus the most important series of tournaments in the world. Progressively it has been evolving until becoming a powerful machine.

History of the WSOP

First years : amateurism

The first year the WSOP appeared, the tournament to win the title of the world's champion did not even exist. The winner was designated in a vote between 10 best players invited by Jack Binion, a casino owner.
In 1971 the first major change arrived transforming all trials into buy-ins with a prize pool.
In 1973 a new variation of the game, a five card stud, appears.
From then on, every year we witness the appearance of new tournaments and new game variations, all depending on the choice of organising committee as well as on demand of players that participate in the series. The latest major change was the invention of the H.O.R.S.E. 50.000 by player is asked to finally organise a tournament to their level.

The rise of the WSOP:

Between 1980 and 2002 a series of changes has been made in all spheres of the WSOP: the prize pool of the Main Event growing constantly each year, by thus attracting more and more players wishing to show their talent to the whole world and to win big.
Since 1973 the Main Event has been diffused on the cable TV during the night and without showing players cards to the audience.

2003-2004: the turning point for the WSOP

In 2003 Chris the Moneymaker wins the Main Event and the sum of $2,500,000 after becoming qualified via a satellite tournament on the Internet for only $39. Thanks to a masterful bluff, Moneymaker won at the final table whilst playing against Sam Fahra. That victory gave hope to millions of players who dream of winning a jackpot during a tournament of that importance.
At the same time E.S.P.N. purchased the rights to diffuse WSOP tournaments during TV peak times. Besides, the World Poker Tour, that revolutionises the way to film and diffuse poker on the TV by showing player's cards, sees the world.
Thanks to previous events, the game of poker became fashionable. In 2004, the WSOP register the growth of the number of players from 839 to 2756, then up to 5619 in 2005, to beat up all the records in 2006 with 8 773 players!