1980 World Series of Poker - Recap

The Fowler Effect brought 73 players out to the 1980 World Series of Poker in an attempt to chase down the gold bracelet. Fowler had proven that all you needed to become the World Champion was $10,000 and the moxy to put it on the line. You then had chips and a chair, and could compete with the best in the world. This was also the first year that ESPN taped the final table for an hour long special. This inspired the first year of the famous money presentation for the benefit of the viewing public.

One of the 73 players was a 26 year old from New York, named Stuey Ungar. What he lacked in physical stature he made up for in intelligence (IQ 185), and supreme talent. It was Ungar’s first year to play in the WSOP, and he made the final table nonetheless. Ungar eliminated Richard Clayton in seventh place at the final table to take the chip lead from Gabe Kaplan.

Ungar then got involved in a large pot with Kaplan, Johnny Moss, and Doyle Brunson. Ungar held A-Q and opted to check a flop of AhAcKc. The three others also checked and the turn brought the 3h. Ungar fired out $30,000 and both Kaplan and Moss abandoned ship. Brunson did not, he re-raised all in for $176,000. Ungar went into the tank for several minutes and made the call. The river brought the 8d and both players revealed their cards. Brunson also held A-Q and they split the large pot.

Moss had been on a run at the final table and continued his charge to the top when he eliminated Kaplan, this gave him $163,000. After the exit of Kaplan, action stopped for the night, and Ungar held the chip lead ($395,000). The players returned the next day and Charles Dunwoody was the next to hit the rail. Brunson then made quad aces against Moss to knock him down to $66,000. The “Grand Old Man of Poker” was eliminated a few hands later in fourth place by Ungar. Brunson disposed of Jay Heimowitz next in third place and action was down to heads up.

The two were even in chips, but these two men were among the most aggressive players on the planet. They made the battle a shoot out from the start and 15 minutes into play they tangled for the last time. Brunson bet $10,000 before the flop with Ah7h. Ungar called with 5s4s. The flop was dealt Ad7d2c and Brunson made a goading bet of $10,000. Ungar called and the turn brought the 3h. Ungar now fired out $30,000 in an attempt to goad Brunson. It worked, only better than Ungar had hoped when Brunson re-raised all in. Ungar called with the nut straight and won the bracelet after the 2d fell on the river. Ungar also won $365,000, which he proceeded to spend freely and gamble away in what would become a life long habit.