• 1972 - Thomas “Amarillo Slim” Preston won the third WSOP event beating Johnny Moss the previous two year’s winner. He took home $80,000. The tournament had only 12 participants.
  • 1973 - CBS Sports televised the World Series for the first time.
  • 1974 – Johnny Moss beats 15 other players to again win the main event and $160,000
  • 1977 - Doyle “Texas Dolly” Brunson backs up his 1976 win to make it back-to back WSOP wins.
  • 1978 – Place prizes were introduced for the first time with the 2nd to 5th finishers of the main event sharing in the prize money for the first time.
  • 1989 – Benny Binion, the father of WSOP, passes away this year.
  • 1991 – Prize money for first place in the main event tops $1 million for the first time.
  • 1997 – Stuey “The Kid” Ungar makes a comeback and wins the main event for the third time after his previous back-to-back wins in 1980 and 1981. And the main event was played outdoors.
  • 2003 – Unknown rookie Chris Moneymaker qualifies for the main even by winning his entry to the tournament though an online qualifier, paying only $39 and went on to become the champion winning $2.5 million dollars.
  • 2004 – The WSOP was held at Binion’s Horseshoe Casino for the last time, after the Horseshoe was bought by Harrah’s Entertainment.
  • 2005 – Johnny “Orient Express” Chan wins his 10th WSOP bracelet setting a new record for the most bracelets won with his victory at the Pot-Limit Omaha event. Four days later, Doyle Brunson also won his 10th WSOP bracelet in the $5,000 No Limit Short Handed event.
  • 2006 – College student Jeff Madsen becomes the youngest winner ever of a WSOP event. Aged 21 years, one month, and nine days, he won event #22 taking the $660,948 prize.

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