History of the Razz Event
At the start of the day we posted a chart of Razz winners dating back to 2005, but that's not to suggest that their isn't a long and storied history to this event. In fact, Razz tournaments at the World Series of Poker date all the way back to 1973 and has been on the schedule every year except 1976.
While Barry Greenstein began the day as the most recent champ still in the field, it doesn't mean he was the only Razz champ looking for a second title. Linda Johnson actually won this event back in 1997 when she outlasted a field of 160 players to capture the $96,000 first-place prize and he first gold bracelet; likewise, Ted Forrest took down the Razz title in 1993, the year he won three gold bracelets. While Johnson was eliminated early in the day Forrest is still in contention for his sixth gold bracelet.
As we said before, this event has a history dating back decades. What better way to tell you more about it than to reference a post from 2010 written by WSOP and historian Nolan Dalla:
The illustrious list of former winners in this event reads like a “Who’s Who” of poker. Former Razz
champions include — Billy Baxter, Doyle Brunson, Eskimo Clark, T.J. Cloutier, Ted Forrest, Linda Johnson,
Berry Johnston, O’Neil Longson, Lakewood Louie, Tom McEvoy, Huck Seed, Barry Greenstein, Jeffrey
Lisandro and Frank Kassela.
Four players have won this event two times in WSOP history. This exclusive club of repeat Razz winners
includes — Sam Angel, Gary “Bones” Berland, Mike Hart and Huck Seed.
The first-ever Razz champion was by legendary Sam Angel, one of the most colorful personalities ever to be
part of the Las Vegas gambling culture. He won the inaugural event held at Binion’s Horseshoe in 1973.
Angel was a complete contradiction of his given name (hardly “angelic”), and is often remembered as a surly,
abrasive figure. He often wore loud checkered jackets and slurred ceaseless profanities. Perhaps in part
due to Angel’s two early victories in Razz and his cantankerous demeanor, the poker variant developed (an
undeserved) reputation as a game for nits and tightwads. It’s certainly changed since the days of Sam
Angel, and remains as an event with arguably as interesting a history of any tournament held each year at
the WSOP, other than the Main Event.
Two ladies have won this event in the past – Linda Johnson (1997) and Katja Thater (2007).
The Razz championship was televised by ESPN once, back in 2004. It was one of the most interesting
tournament final tables ever shown. There were several interesting personalities among the eight finalists
and lots of table chatter. However, the game was never broadcast again, presumably because it was difficult
for viewers to follow and confusing (to novices) since the object of the game was the make the worst/lowest
hand.
The 2005 Razz championship was one of the longest final tables in WSOP history. That finale clocked in at
a mind-numbing 16 hours – which set a WSOP record at the time. The Razz mark stood for three years until
the 2008 WSOP Europe Main Event final table