1971 World Series of Poker - Recap
The 1971 World Series of Poker was first year the tournament
was a “freezeout,” meaning that the last man standing
with all the chips would be crowned World Champion. This came
about after the media complained about the boring nature of
the first edition. According to “All In: The (Almost)
Entirely True Story of the World Series of Poker,” Los
Angeles Times reporter Ted Thackrey said, “You’ve
got to find a way to make it a contest…If you want to
get the press involved and turn the World Series into a real
sporting event, you need to give it some structure, create
some drama, and make it a real tournament.”
Heading those words, Johnny Moss, Jack Straus, Puggy Pearson,
Jimmy Casella, Sailor Roberts, Doyle Brunson, and Amarillo
Slim Preston paid the $5,000 entry fee and took their seats
at the 1971 WSOP. No records or notes were kept on the event,
but it is known that Pearson faced off with Johnny Moss head’s-up.
The “Grand Old Man of Poker” defeated Pearson
and won his second WSOP titile in a row, along with $30,000.
“Moss won that event…so it does show [in 1970]
we voted for the right guy,” later recalled Brunson
of the 1971 event.
