The WSOP began in 1970 but became a real competition in 1971. It wasn't until 1991 that the prize money hit $1,000,000. Since then the prizes have continued to grow and the publicity and popularity of the game has skyrocketed. What many people don't realize about the World Series Of Poker is that it is not just a single tournament. There are multiple tournaments held in most of the major popular poker games including Omaha and Stud among others. The winners of these tournaments get a gold bracelet signifying they are a world champion of poker.

Of course, when most people think of the World Series Of Poker they think of the most publicized game, the grade finale of the entire event. This is the championship that everyone wants to win because it is by far the biggest event and is certainly the most prestigious. The event in question is the No Limit Texas Holdem event. The winner is crowned the World Champion and gets his picture installed in the Gallery of Champions. The winner also gets the bracelet and of course the massive prize money.

If you think you are good enough to take on the best in the world call 1-877-367-9767. If you are not sure if you want to invest that kind of money into a single game, consider some of the online tournaments. For a very small entry fee you stand a chance of winning an all expenses paid entry into the World Series Of Poker. All of the sites featured on our play poker online page offer some great opportunities to win your way to the World Series Of Poker with minimal investment.

Read more about the WSOP Main Event here.

Past Winners Of The World Series Of Poker No Limit Texas Holdem

2008 TBD (First prize now $9,119,517 - 6,844 players)
2007 Jerry Yang (First prize down to $8.25m; US law change drops entries to 6,358 players)
2006 Jamie Gold (First prize now $12.5m - 8,773 players)
2005 Joseph Hachem (First prize now $7.5m - all final table players win over $1m)
2004 Greg the "Fossilman" Raymer (First prize now up to $5,000,000)
2003 Chris Moneymaker (First prize now up to $2,500,000)
2002 Robert Varkonyi
2001 Carlos Mortenson
2000 Chris "Jesus" Ferguson (The first time the first prize reached $1.5 million.)
1999 Noel Furlong
1998 Scotty Nguyen
1997 Stu Ungar
1996 Huck Seed
1995 Dan Harrington
1994 Russ Hamilton (Also won his weight in silver as a "WSOP Silver Anniversary" bonus.)
1993 Jim Bechtel
1992 Hamid Dastmalchi
1991 Brad Daugherty (The first time the first prize was $1,000,000.)
1990 Mansour Matloubi
1989 Phil Hellmuth, Jr. (Youngest ever winner of the World Series Of Poker.)
1989 Binion's Founder and Father of the World Series Of Poker dies on Christmas Day 1989.
1988 Johnny Chan
1987 Johnny Chan
1986 Berry Johnston
1985 Bill Smith
1984 Jack Kellar
1983 Tom McEvoy
1982 Jack "Treetop" Strauss
1981 Stu Ungar
1980 Stu Ungar
1979 Hal Fowler
1978 Bobby Baldwin
1977 Doyle Brunson
1976 Doyle Brunson
1975 Sailor Roberts
1974 Johnny Moss
1973 Puggy Pearson
1972 "Amarillo Slim" Preston
1971 Johnny Moss (Won in competition, as were all that came after)
1970 Johnny Moss (Awarded by vote, the World Series Of Poker is born!)

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