WSOP 1970
1970 was a very volatile year in the United States. Many of you are old enough to remember when four students at Kent State University were gunned down by National Guardsmen while protesting the U.S. military involvement in Cambodia.
On the sporting front, Kansas City won the Super Bowl and the Baltimore Orioles claimed the baseball World Series. There were some tragic developments in the world of music, as both Janice Joplin and Jimi Hendrix succumbed to their personal demons.And yet, 1970 was a year of unparalleled expansion and glory for professional poker. This was the year in which Benny Binion, legendary owner of the Horseshoe casino on Fremont Street in Las Vegas, made the visionary move of hosting the first World Series of Poker. There had been a previous invitational form of this tournament held at the Riverside casino in Reno, but Binion had his eye on much bigger things. He had a dream of creating an event that would attract global attention to the game of poker and help to spread both its popularity and legitimacy all around the world. That was his dream and it was one that turned into a reality.
The inaugural World Series of Poker was unique from many that followed over the decades. Unlike the current events, which are decided using a freeze-out tournament, the 1970 champion was decided by voting. Binion invited the best seven poker players in America to his casino in Vegas. From the moment they all walked in the door and sat down at the green felt table, it seemed pretty clear to everyone there that history was about to be made.
In the end, it was the great Johnny Moss who came out on top. He was voted the best in the world by "Amarillo Slim" Preston, Brian "Sailor" Roberts, Doyle "Texas Dolly" Brunson, Walter "Puggy" Pearson, Crandall Addington and Carl Cannon. However, unlike the subsequent winners, Moss did not take home a huge amount of money that year. Instead, he walked away with a silver cup.
But, far more valuable than gold or silver, Johnny Moss had earned himself a permanent position in the annals of poker lore by becoming the first WSOP champion in history. Many other greats would follow in his footsteps in years to come. Benny Binion had started something that would become bigger than he ever could have imagined.
by Arthur Crowson
