5 Facts About the WSOP

The World Series of Poker is one of the largest, richest, and most exciting poker tournaments, with the first event taking place in 1970. As The World Series of Poker has been around for a while, it has resulted in a range of interesting facts. As the tournament starts its 2021 series in Las Vegas, why don’t we look at facts about the WSOP.

#1 - The Youngest Player To Win the Main Event at WSOP

In 2008 Peter Eastgate was crowned the youngest main event winner at 22 years old, Joe Cada swiped the crown away from him just a year later at the age of 21, winning a bracelet and a total of $8,546,435. He lived on with his success, winning 4 WSOP bracelets. He was even mentioned as one of the top 50 poker players by WSOP on their 50th anniversary.

Sadly, since turning 21 this year’s WSOP will be the first that Joe Cada will not be competing in.

#2 - One Woman Has Made It To the WSOP Final Main Event Table

Yes! Only one woman has ever made it to the main event final table, not surprising in a male dominated world. In 1995, Barbara Enright, already the owner of 2 gold bracelets, made history by becoming the first woman to make the final main event table at the WSOP.

Unfortunately, she still is the only woman to have made it. However, a few have come close with two female contestants finishing 10th and 11th in the main event in 2012.

#3 - There is 63 years Between the Youngest and Oldest Bracelet Winners.

On the topic of successful women playing poker at the WSOP, Annette Obrestad at 18 years old became the youngest player to win a WSOP bracelet. Making a 63 year difference between the youngest and oldest bracelet winners, with the oldest being Johnny Moss at 62 years old.

Johnny Moss played in the first ever WSOP alongside poker legends Puggy Pearson and Doyle Brunson. Johnny Moss was the first to win the main event final table in 1970, he also won the 1971 and 1974 World Series of Poker main events.

#4 - Phil Hellmuth Holds the Most WSOP Bracelets

Ever wondered who has won the most WSOP golden bracelets? Well, it is Phil Hellmuth the ‘Poker Brat’ who holds the record with 15 bracelets, this is 5 more than anyone else who has competed, including Phil Ivey, Johnny Chan and Doyle Brunson! Hellmuth won his very first bracelet in 1989 at 24 years old, making him the youngest WSOP Main event champion at the time.

Not only has he won the most bracelets, in 2012 Hellmuth made history as the only person to win both the WSOP Main Event as well as the WSOPE Main Event. The Poker Brat is also one of the WSOP cash game leaders, Daniel Negreanu surpassed him in 2020.

#5 - The World Series of Poker is a Brand Name

Until 2004 'The World Series of Poker' was a trademark owned by Binion's Horseshoe Casino. When Harrah's Entertainment purchased the Horseshoe Casino, they also retained the rights to the brand name 'The World Series of Poker'.

On the topic of Horseshoe Casino, here's an interesting fact on the founder of the casino, gambling icon Benny Binion. In 1931, Binion was convicted of shooting and killing Frank Bolding, an African-American rum-runner. In 1936 Binion killed a numbers operator and competitor named Ben Frieden.