If you’re a fan of online poker, you’ll probably know that most of the iconic moments on the felt happen in World Series of Poker (WSOP) games. This isn’t just relevant today, but has been the case throughout the WSOP’s rich history.
We thought that now was as good a time as any to take a look back at some of the most important events that have taken place at the World Series over the years. We’re going to revisit some of the greatest moments that have created WSOP winners and losers, and the plays that made these moments possible.
Sit back, relax, and enjoy taking a walk down poker memory lane.
Johnny Chan vs Erik Seidel
It was the 1988 Main Event, and a relatively unknown 24-year-old by the name of Erik Seidel was absolutely crushing every opponent. He showed poise and aggression to take down even the most experienced players, until only two of 167 players remained.
Seidel found himself on the other side of the table from the legendary Johnny Chan, who was looking to win a consecutive Main Event. Poker players from around the world will certainly remember this incredible heads-up match, and even those who don’t play poker tournaments or poker games online might know about it, because it was featured in the movie, Rounders, which starred Matt Damon and Edward Norton!
In the final hand of the tournament, Chan flopped a queen-high straight and Seidel a top pair. Betting ensued, then the river, and still the standings did not change. So, Chan bet $50,000 and Seidel decided to min-raise another $50,000.
The famous line from the announcer epitomized this moment: “Will Erik Seidel fall for the bait? Yes, he’s going all-in, and Chan has him. Johnny Chan, the master.”
The ‘Poker Brat’ beats Johnny Chan
It was only a year later that Johnny Chan was involved in another incredulous moment at the Main Event. This time, though, he was on the other side of the fence. He was on the road to become one of the few WSOP champions to win an unprecedented three consecutive WSOP Main Event titles. All he had to do was beat a young Wisconsin player – Phil Hellmuth Jr, who was nicknamed the “Poker Brat.”
In the final hand of the tournament, Chan moved all-in, holding the A♠ 7♠ and was up against Hellmuth’s 9♠ 9♣. The K♣ K♦ 10♥ flop gave Chan some hope, but the Q♠ turn and 6♠ river did nothing to help Chan, and he was denied a place in the history books.
Moneymaker’s bluff vs Farha
Chris Moneymaker was an accountant from Tennessee who invested $86 to buy his way into the 2003 WSOP Main Event via an online poker satellite. Sammy Farha was a seasoned pro, and can’t have been too nervous about facing up to the unknown man sitting opposite him.
The moment itself came down to what the commentator Norman Chad called the “bluff of the century.”
The hand developed on a 9♠ 2♦ 6♠ flop, with Farha holding the Q♠ 9♥ for top pair and Moneymaker the K♠ 7♥ for very little. Both players checked, and the 8♠ appeared on the turn. Farha bet 300,000 and Moneymaker, who had the better flush draw, raised 500,000 more.
Farha made the call and a 3♥ completed the board on the river. Farha checked, and Moneymaker went all in! Farha took a long time deciding what to do, trying his best to get a reaction out of Moneymaker – but to no avail.
Farha folded and Moneymaker walked away with a cool $2.5 million!
Nguyen baby!
“You call, it’s gonna be all over baby!” is one of the most iconic lines used in poker history. This is what Scotty Nguyen told Kevin McBride before he beat him to win the 1998 WSOP Main Event.
In the final hand, the two players saw a flop of 9♥ 9♦ 8♣, and Nguyen checked. McBride, who had raised before the flop, came out with all cylinders firing, with 100,000.
Nguyen just called and the 8♥ double-paired the board on the turn. McBride checked for the second time and called another bet. When the 8♠ put a full house on the board, Nguyen went all in and as McBride weighed up his options – Nguyen stood up and said his famous line.
This psychological warfare meant McBride called off and he played the board with his Q♥ 10♥. Nguyen then rolled over the J♦ 9♣ to win the event!
Stu Ungar’s last win
The year was 1997, and Stu Ungar was looking for a place in the poker history books by winning this third WSOP Main Event title. The game wasn’t particularly memorable for the play itself – in fact, Ungar got very lucky with his winning hand.
The things that do make it stand out are the circular holographic glasses that Ungar wore as he squared off against John Strzemp in heads-up play; that the final was played in Fremont Street in the Vegas heat; and that this would be the last such tournament for Ungar, who unfortunately died just over a year later.
This poker memory deserves a place in history to honour an extraordinary player.
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