World Series of Poker (WSOP) is undoubtedly the king of events in the world-gambling domain. Among the oldest, most awaited and most exalted annual event in the history of poker, WSOP has an ardent fan following. Players from all over the globe endeavor for a spot to compete against the champions of poker; even the staggeringly high buy-ins does not discourage the poker fanatics to procure a seat in one of the most esteemed events. Online poker websites offer to pay for the proficient players unable to buy a seat in event owing to high fees. They are known as poker satellites. Poker rooms are packed to their strength when championship events are underway in the most extravagant and munificent style. The WSOP is truly the most stimulating event of the year.

WSOP AT THE START

Nick Dandolos and Benny Binion, two of the most outstanding and prodigious players decided to have a game of marathon poker. Thus, in the late 1940’s the match was set up with Nick challenging the then unrivalled king of poker Johnny Moss. It was not before 1949 that the play got underway with both oppositions agreeing to a detailed contract. One of the clauses of the contract was that play was to be held in full public view. After grueling set of hands and tiring game of play, finally, there was a winner. As predicted, Moss won and took home a bounty close to 2 million. Thus, a new era of poker known as World Series of poker had begun.

Nick lost the first endurance match, but Binion again challenged Moss after 21 years of Nick losing in the first marathon poker. He invited six of the most well known poker players to The Horseshoe Casino, Nevada to play a game of marathon poker. Again, as awaited, Moss dominated and came forth as the undisputed champion of champions. Players decided the winner on basis of secret ballot as it was a set time event. This was the invitational event and from this event onwards, the championship was laurelled as The World Series of Poker.

WSOP IN ITS PRESENT STAGE

WSOP has come a long way since the first time it was played with limited players and single event. The 2007 edition saw a total of 55 different events and more than 5000 registered poker players vying for the top spots. The World Series of Poker bracelet is the most coveted prize a poker player can aspire to win and since 1976, each winner has been awarded with the WSOP bracelet in recognition of his feat.

The year 2009 WSOP began with a bang and a special $40,000 no limit holdem (event 2) was introduced to mark the 40th anniversary of World Series of Poker. The total number of events went up from 55 to 57 with debut of two more events. However, all eyes in the poker room were set on the main event, which boasted of a humungous $50,000 buy-in, The H.O.R.S.E. tournament. The event sent eyeballs rolling by bettering the previous record of most hands in an event. David Bach won the event taking the Chip Reese Memorial trophy and the gold bracelet along with nearly $1.3 million as prize money. Some of the biggest names in online poker seem to rule the tournament, and thousands of wanna be players practice and enter tournaments each year in hopes in making to this big event.

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The first day of the 2009 WSOP Main Event got off to a rocky start when 500 players were shut out of the tournament and did not get to play.  The final number of players for this 2009 Main Event totaled 6,494 players, which means that the last player standing will collect over 8.5 million dollars as the winner of the 2009 WSOP. This is several million less than Jamie Gold’s record 12 million dollar win a couple of years ago.  It is also the second year that the final table will be delayed a couple of months before it is played.  The players who make the final table will be winners of at least one million dollars. Many stated they will probably stay fresh with some of the best online poker rooms.

Without a doubt the high interest in this tournament is still there and the shut out of 500 players who wanted to play is a sign that this tournament needs to be organized better and the rules for getting to play stiffened so that this is not repeated in future years.  A cut off date for registration would be the simplest way to begin to correct this problem in the future.

The players who did get to play are gambling in shifts again as there is not one facility that can hold all of the players at one time.  It will be interesting to see if the eventual winner is determined by skill or by an amazing rush of super hands that just defies all odds of a rush ending after one day.   In Gold’s big win, his rush was non-stop as the good hands just kept coming for the entire tournament.

Repeat winners of the WSOP are also a long shot bet at best, as the number of players makes this less likely each year.  WSOP’s attraction is still a force in the poker world, as the popularity of poker is not subsiding since Chris Moneymaker won the tournament when completely unknown.

For those players that got into the tournament via a satellite tournament and can now parlay that rather small investment into potential millions, hope is rampant.  The only factor that needs to break their way is a run of winning the race hands

The big name pros have one advantage in this tournament; they know how to build a stack for latter days in the tournament.   Over sized stacks are a huge advantage when a player is seated at a table with a group of small stacks that can be bullied and eliminated if a mistake is made.  The realization for many is it takes only one serious mistake or bad beat to end the dreams of making and then winning at the final table.  As always luck or skill or both will decide the last player standing.

If your looking to get into the action next year, check out the best online casino bonuses so you can practice your skills and get a jump on the competition for the 2010 Main Event.

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