1979 World Series of Poker

1979 World Series of Poker

1979 World Series of Poker

The 1979 World Series of Poker featured the largest group for the main event. In previous years the World Series of Poker had shown growth by going over the mark of 40 participants in the main event. In the 1979 World Series of Poker the number of participants shot up to 54.

The increasing number of participants demonstrated the growing popularity of the event around the United States. The grand prize at stake for the event was for 270,000 dollars.

The tournament featured many notable players from the day including the likes of Jesse Alto, Amarillo Slim Preston, Aubrey Day, Bobby Baldwin, Buc Buchanan, Betty Carey, Barbara Freer, Brian "Sailor" Roberts, Chip Reese, Doyle "Texas Dolly" Brunson, Gabe Kaplan, Sam Moon, Dewey Tomko, Ken Smith, Sam Petrillo and Walter Pearson.

From the first day many of these notable players started to find their way out the door. Former repeat champion Doyle Brunson disappointed in the 1978 World Series of Poker and didn't fare any better in 1979. Brunson had strung together two consecutive championships previously and was eliminated early in '78. He was once again eliminated early in '79 as he left his seat on the first day of play. Other notable players that were eliminated early include Amarillo Slim and Brian "Sailor" Roberts. Barbara Freer, the first woman player to ever participate, only lasted one day as well. Twenty total players were eliminated, leaving 34 players remaining.

The second day left twenty four more players in the dust. A former champion of the World Series of Poker, Puggy Pearson, was sent home. Ken Smith, a player that earned the favor of the crowd the year before, was also eliminated on the 2nd day of play. This left just 14 players remaining as the three day would commence.

Bobby Baldwin was the first casualty of notable players in the third day. Sam Petrillo and Chip Reese followed him along as notables to get the boot. When Reese exited the game there were just five players left to contend for the title.

The remaining five players included Johnny Moss, Sam Moon, George Huber, Bobby Hoff and Hal Fowler. Moss was the first player to leave, followed by Sam Moon. George Huber, Bobby Hoff and Hal Fowler remained to fight for the championship.

George Huber lasted just twenty minutes after Sam Moon was eliminated. Bobby Hoff and amateur player Hal Fowler were the only players left from there. Fowler took the advantage and began to close out the game. From there Hoff went all in with a 43,000 dollar bet to put the match on the line. Fowler saw his opportunity and called the bet. He had an inside straight in his hand and took the title as the World Series of Poker champion for 1979. Fowler was the first amateur to ever win the tournament. This opened the door for many amateurs as they saw possibilities that didn't previously seem plausible. In the end of the tournament, Fowler took home 270,000 and a bracelet.

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