1970 World Series of Poker

1970 World Series of Poker
LocationBinion's Horseshoe, Las Vegas, Nevada
DatesMay 8
Champion
United States Johnny Moss
← 1969
1971 →

The 1970 World Series of Poker (WSOP) was first held in 1970.[1] Unlike the WSOP events that followed it, which are decided using a freeze-out tournament, the 1970 champion was decided from a vote by the players. Jack Binion invited the best seven poker players in America to his Binion's Horseshoe casino in Las Vegas, Nevada to decide who was America's best poker player.[2]

After a cash game session, Johnny Moss was voted the best in the world by "Amarillo Slim" Preston, Sailor Roberts, Doyle Brunson, Puggy Pearson, Crandell Addington, and Carl Cannon.[3] Moss was awarded a silver cup rather than a bracelet, which was not established as the prize until 1976.[4]

According to an apocryphal legend, two votes were taken to determine the best player in the world. In the first, the players were asked to vote for the best player, and, the story goes, each voted for himself. In the second vote, they were asked to vote for the second-best player, and Moss won the vote and was awarded the title.[5]

  1. ^ "World Series of Poker: A Retrospective: 1970 Summary". University of Nevada, Las Vegas. October 22, 2007. Archived from the original on November 30, 2018. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  2. ^ Harris, Martin (July 3, 2017). "History of the World Series of Poker Main Event: 1970-1979". PokerNews. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  3. ^ Streltcoff, Max (April 15, 2024). "Where It All Began". PokerListings. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  4. ^ Smith, Shane. Championship Table. Cardoza Publishing. ISBN 978-1-58042-469-1. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  5. ^ Rogers, Mark (2006). 52 Greatest Moments World Series of Poker. 52 Greatest Moments WSOP. p. 19. ISBN 0-9787446-9-1.