The Greatest Runs Ever in the World Series of Poker

19:54
12 Nov

Poker has become one of the most popular card games in the world over the last two decades, with millions of players competing for billions of dollars in prize money every year.

And when it comes to poker tournaments, the World Series of Poker (WSOP) is the biggest and most prestigious event of them all.
Since its inception in 1970, the WSOP has crowned hundreds of champions, but some runs have stood out from the rest.

Here are some of the greatest Main Event runs ever seen in the WSOP.

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Phil Hellmuth's 1989 Main Event Win

Phil Hellmuth is one of the most successful and polarising figures in the history of poker. He has won a record 16 WSOP bracelets and is known for his brash personality and sometimes controversial behaviour at the table.

But Hellmuth's rise to fame began in 1989 when he won the WSOP Main Event at just 24 years old. It was his first WSOP bracelet and he became the youngest player to ever win the Main Event.

Hellmuth's run to the title was impressive in its own right, but it was the way he did it that made it even more memorable. In the final hand of the tournament, he made a stunning call with just king-high and his opponent, Johnny Chan, was forced to show his bluff.

Hellmuth's celebration after winning the hand became one of the most iconic moments in WSOP history, as he famously exclaimed, "If it weren't for luck, I'd win them all."

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Johnny Moss' Three Main Event Wins

Johnny Moss is considered by many to be the godfather of poker. He played in the first WSOP Main Event in 1970 and went on to win it twice more in 1971 and 1974.

Moss was known for his ability to read his opponents, and his early success in the WSOP helped establish the tournament as the premier event in the poker world.

Moss's runs to his Main Event victories were impressive in their own right, but it was his dominance in the early years of the WSOP that set him apart. He won the first two Main Events by a landslide and was widely considered the best player in the world at the time.

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Stu Ungar's Back-to-Back Main Event Wins

Stu Ungar is one of the most tragic figures in the history of poker. He won the WSOP Main Event three times (1980, 1981, and 1997), but his back-to-back victories in 1980 and 1981 were particularly impressive. Ungar was known for his incredible skill and his ability to make reads that seemed almost supernatural.

Ungar's 1980 Main Event victory was especially impressive, as he had to overcome a final table that included Doyle Brunson, who would go on to win the Main Event the following year.

Ungar's victory in 1981 was just as impressive, as he defeated a tough field that included Johnny Chan and Berry Johnston.

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Doyle Brunson's Consecutive Main Event Wins

Doyle Brunson is one of the all-time greats of poker, and his consecutive Main Event wins in 1976 and 1977 helped cement his status as a legend of the game.

Brunson was known for his aggressive style and his willingness to take risks, and he used those qualities to great effect in his Main Event victories.
In 1976, Brunson overcame a final table that included Jesse Alto and Bobby Hoff to win his first Main Event title.

The following year, he defeated Gary Berland heads-up to win his second title in a row. Brunson's back-to-back victories made him one of the most feared players in the game and helped establish him as one of the all-time greats.

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Chris Moneymaker's 2003 Main Event Win

Chris Moneymaker's victory in the 2003 WSOP Main Event is one of the most significant moments in the history of poker. Moneymaker was an amateur player who had qualified for the Main Event through a $39 satellite tournament on PokerStars.

He wasn't given much of a chance against the field of seasoned professionals, but he went on an incredible run to become the champion.

Moneymaker's victory had a huge impact on the poker world. It helped spark the poker boom of the early 2000s and led to a surge in interest in the game.

Moneymaker's story inspired countless players to take up the game, and it helped make poker more accessible to a wider audience.

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Phil Ivey's Dominance in 2002

Phil Ivey is widely considered to be one of the greatest poker players of all time, and his performance in the 2002 WSOP was one of the most dominant runs in the tournament's history.

Ivey won three bracelets that year and made five final tables, establishing himself as one of the game's elite players.

Ivey's performance in the 2002 WSOP was impressive not only for the number of bracelets he won, but also for the variety of games in which he excelled. He won bracelets in Stud, Omaha, and No Limit Hold'em, proving that he was a well-rounded player who could compete in any format.

The World Series of Poker has seen some incredible runs over the years, and the players listed above are just a few examples of the greatness that has been on display.

From the early dominance of Johnny Moss to the more recent success of Phil Ivey, these players have left their mark on the game of poker and inspired countless others to take up the game.

While the WSOP has seen many great champions over the years, these runs stand out as some of the most impressive and memorable in the tournament's history.