Jack Binion Remembers the Early Days of the World Series of Poker

The World Series of Poker (WSOP) has a rich history, and one of its key figures, Jack Binion, recently shared his memories of the early days. Jack Binion's father, Benny Binion, founded the Horseshoe casino, which became the birthplace of the WSOP.

The first WSOP was held in 1970, organized by Jack Binion and his father. The event was initially a small gathering of the best poker players, with only around 100 participants. The first WSOP main event was a $10,000 buy-in freezeout tournament, an idea proposed by Amarillo Slim. Amarillo Slim was the first winner of the WSOP main event, and his victory marked the beginning of a legendary career.

Doyle Brunson was considered the strongest player in the early days of the WSOP. He was known for his dominance in cash games and his ability to outplay his opponents. Brunson's signature move, the 'T2' (two pair), became legendary after he used it to win two consecutive WSOP main events. Another notable player from the early days was Stu Ungar, known for his dominance in gin rummy and his temperamental behavior in poker. Ungar's skills in gin rummy were so impressive that he was often compared to a pit bull fighting a Chihuahua, with the Chihuahua being Ungar himself.