1978 World Series of Poker - Recap
By 1978, Jack Binion had taken over most the responsibility
of running the tournament from his father, Benny. Forty-two
players signed up for action that year, including the first
woman ever. Barbara Freer, from El Cajon, California, anteed
up the $10,000. So did Gabe Kaplan. The famous entertainer
only lasted four hours in the tournament, but he would be
associated with the game of poker for many years to come.
Brunson’s quest for a three-peat came up short when
he busted just two hours into the action.
The tournament had now been expanded to a four-day affair.
At the start of the final day, young Bobby Baldwin held the
chip lead. “The Owl” had $163,600, which was twice
the amount of chips his next closest competitor held. The
outside forces of CBS (who was there to film the final table)
instituted a formal prize structure. The top five finishers
would all walk away with prize money. Ken “Top Hat”
Smith would not be among those five when he was eliminated
in sixth place.
The final pitted the young gun Baldwin against one the Texas
road gamblers old guard, Crandell Addington. Four hours into
the match, Addington possessed the chip lead. He held $275,000
to the $145,000 Baldwin had in front of him. The opponents
went to dinner and when they came back Baldwin went on the
aggressive. He forced Addington to lay down his hand with
a $65,000 bet on the turn. Baldwin won $92,000 when Addington
folded and he took control of the match. Baldwin slow played
the next two hands, which cost Addington $30,000 a pop. Baldwin
extracted another $30,000 from Addington for the third hand
in a row when he made a straight over Addington’s set
of threes.
The score was now Baldwin: $370,000 Addington: $50,000. On
the final hand, Addington limped with pocket nines. Baldwin
bet $10,000 and then Addington moved all in. Baldwin flipped
up pocket queens. The board was dealt KcQs9h and Addington
had one remaining out. A 10 on the turn and ace on the river
were not that one card, and Addington finished in second place.
Baldwin won the gold bracelet and $210,000.
