2018 World Series of Poker

Event #65: $10,000 No-Limit Hold'em MAIN EVENT - World Championship
Day: 1a
Event Info

2018 World Series of Poker

Final Results
Winner
Winning Hand
kj
Prize
$8,800,000
Event Info
Buy-in
$10,000
Prize Pool
$74,015,600
Entries
7,874
Level Info
Level
44
Blinds
2,000,000 / 4,000,000
Ante
500,000

Defending Champion Blumstein Takes a Seat

Level 2 : 150/300, 0 ante
Scott Blumstein
Scott Blumstein

Defending WSOP Main Event champion Scott Blumstein has entered the fray on Day 1a and, despite not being involved in any of the action yet, has already made an impact on his table. All smiles, very chatty and interacting with the other players at the table, the atmosphere is very relaxed.

The table also features three-time WSOP bracelet winner Brian Yoon, Jean Montury and Lacey Jones.

Yoon just raised to 800 first to act and was called by Joseph Ingalls in the big blind. After a {K-Hearts}{9-Clubs}{3-Diamonds} flop both players checked. Ingalls checked the {K-Spades} turn, Yoon bet 1,000 and folded to Ingall's check-raise of 4,500.

Player Chips Progress
Brian Yoon us
Brian Yoon
WSOP 5X Winner
75,000 8,000
Jean Montury fr
Jean Montury
52,000
Scott Blumstein us
Scott Blumstein
WSOP Main Event Champion
WSOP 1X Winner
49,000
Lacey Jones us
Lacey Jones
48,000 1,500

Tags: Brian YoonJean MonturyLacey JonesScott BlumsteinJoseph Ingalls

Strelitz Hits a One-Outer

Level 1 : 75/150, 0 ante
Daniel Strelitz
Daniel Strelitz

A tweet of Daniel Strelitz about a double up with a one-outer alerted us to have a look at his table that also features Nick Jivkov and Strelitz was involved right away in another big pot. Prior to his double up he had lost some chips and, according to Strelitz, doubled with a one-outer thanks to a five on the river:

Just now, Alexander Krisak raised to 500 and Strelitz from one seat over in the cutoff three-bet to 1,500, Krisak called. The flop came {K-Spades}{K-Clubs}{Q-Diamonds} and Krisak check-called a bet of 1,000 before check-calling another 3,000 on the {3-Clubs} turn. The {J-Clubs} fell on the river and Krisak checked once more. Strelitz bet 11,500 and received a call to roll over the {K-Hearts}{Q-Hearts} for a flopped full house.

Player Chips Progress
Daniel Strelitz us
Daniel Strelitz
WSOP 2X Winner
90,000 40,000
Nick Jivkov bg
Nick Jivkov
WSOP 1X Winner
50,000 50,000
Alexander Krisak us
Alexander Krisak
30,000 30,000

Tags: Alexander KrisakDaniel StrelitzNick Jivkov

Ramdin Doubles in His First Hand

Level 1 : 75/150, 0 ante
Victor Ramdin
Victor Ramdin

In the very first hand off the deck for Victor Ramdin, a player raised to 400 from early position. Ramdin re-raised to 1,500 from the button and the original raiser called. They went heads-up to the {10-Diamonds}{4-Hearts}{3-Spades} flop and the player continued with a bet of 4,000.

Ramdin called and the dealer burned and turned the {k-Hearts} and the player led out with a bet of 13,000. Ramdin raised to 26,000 and with the action back on his opponent, she moved all in for 44,500.

Ramdin snap called turning over {k-Spades}{k-Diamonds} for top set and his opponent showed {q-Spades}{j-Clubs} for an open-ended straight draw. The {q-Diamonds} river card sealed the deal for Ramdin who earned the double up and the knockout.

Player Chips Progress
Victor Ramdin us
Victor Ramdin
100,000 100,000

Tags: Victor Ramdin

Early Amazon Gold Arrivals

Level 1 : 75/150, 0 ante
Stephen Chidwick
Stephen Chidwick

Play is just underway here in the WSOP $10,000 No-Limit Hold'em MAIN EVENT. We are already seeing plenty of familiar faces in their seats in the Gold section of the Amazon room.

Below is a look at some of the early arrivals who are already putting their starting stacks to work.

Player Chips Progress
Pratyush Buddiga us
Pratyush Buddiga
50,500 50,500
Katie Stone Cappuccio
Katie Stone Cappuccio
50,400 50,400
Stephen Chidwick gb
Stephen Chidwick
WSOP 1X Winner
50,000 50,000
Stacey Sullivan us
Stacey Sullivan
50,000 50,000

Tags: Katie StonePratyush BuddigaStacey SullivanStephen ChidwickWSOP

It's Time for the Main Event!

The first Monday in July brings about the biggest tournament in poker: the World Series of Poker $10,000 Main Event. The first starting flight gets underway today at 11 a.m. with players from around the world converging on the Rio for a shot at the most coveted title in poker.

Over the next days, names like Hellmuth, Moneymaker, Chan, Raymer, Negreanu, and Ivey will be heard in the hallways as every serious (tournament) poker player gathers in the Amazon, Brasilia, Miranda, and Pavilion tournament rooms for their shot at eternal glory.

Featuring a comprehensive slate of tournaments in every major poker variation, the WSOP is poker’s longest-running tournament in the world, dating back to 1970.

In 2017, the WSOP drew 120,995 total entrants in 74 total events — the most in its history. The 2017 series awarded more than $231 million in prize money, and the events brought in players from 111 countries.

The venue has changed and numerous games and tournaments added, but the history remains. In recent years, some of those original games played in 1970 have even been worked back into the WSOP festivities in games like dealer’s choice and some of the mixed-games (Championship) events. And the foundation of that remains the Main Event.

When players take their seats beginning today in those first starting flight, they are not just attempting to win a poker tournament; they are attempting to become part of the game’s history — a history that traces its roots from the Revolutionary War to Civil War battlefields to 19th Century steamboats floating on the Mississippi River to scorching Las Vegas summers. Win that bracelet and your name becomes synonymous with some of the best in the game. Thousands will try, but only one will raise that shiny gold bracelet in victory.

Tags: World Series of PokerWSOP

When and Where to Watch

Once again, PokerGO and ESPN have teamed up to bring you a live stream of all the action. Here's the schedule for the Main Event with times in Pacific Time (local Vegas time). This schedule is subject to change.

DateMain EventSlot 1Start timeEnd timeSlot 2Start timeEnd timeSlot 3Start timeEnd time
July 2Day 1aESPN205:00 p.m.10:00 p.m.PokerGO10:00 p.m.11:35 p.m.---
July 3Day 1bESPN204:00 p.m.08:00 p.m.PokerGO09:00 p.m.11:35 p.m.---
July 4Day 1cESPN205:30 p.m.09:00 p.m.PokerGO09:30 p.m.11:35 p.m.---
July 5Day 2abESPN05:00 p.m.08:00 p.m.PokerGO08:00 p.m.11:35 p.m.---
July 6Day 2cESPN205:30 p.m.09:00 p.m.PokerGO09:00 p.m.11:35 p.m.---
July 7Day 3ESPN203:00 p.m.06:30 p.m.PokerGO06:30 p.m.08:30 p.m.---
July 8Day 4ESPN11:30 a.m.03:00 p.m.PokerGO03:00 p.m.06:15 p.m.---
July 9Day 5PokerGO05:00 p.m.06:00 p.m.ESPN206:00 p.m.11:00 p.m.PokerGO11:00 p.m.11:35 p.m.
July 10Day 6PokerGO11:30 a.m.03:50 p.m.ESPN05:00 p.m.08:00 p.m.PokerGO08:00 p.m.11:35 p.m.
July 11Day 7PokerGO11:30 a.m.09:00 p.m.ESPN209:00 p.m.TBD---
July 12Final TableESPN/PokerGO06:00 p.m.TBD------
July 13Final TableESPN/PokerGO06:00 p.m.TBD------
July 14Final TableESPN/PokerGO06:00 p.m.TBD------

World Series of Poker History

Johnny Moss, Becky Binion, and Puggy Pearson
Johnny Moss, Becky Binion, and Puggy Pearson

The Main Event began as an idea hatched in Texas gambler Benny Binion’s mind to promote his casino.

In 1970, a small group of Texas rounders gathered at Binion’s for 10 days playing for high stakes in games like five-card draw, 2-7 lowball, seven-card stud, razz, and no-limit hold’em. Players voted on the winner at the end — Texan and future Poker Hall of Fame member Johnny Moss.

By 1972, no-limit hold’em became the premier game and the $10,000 buy-in tournament that players now know as the Main Event was introduced.

In the intervening 48 years, the event has grown to mammoth proportions with numerous preliminary events. The championship bracelet was introduced by Binion in 1976 and has become the ultimate trophy in poker. Owning one has become the litmus test for poker greatness. The series has even expanded beyond Las Vegas with numerous circuit and bracelet events around the country and the world.

Binion surely couldn’t have imagined the scope that the game would become since his showcase began in 1970. The World Series of Poker is the largest, richest and most prestigious gaming event in the world, having awarded more than $2.6 billion in prize money and the prestigious gold bracelet, globally recognized as the sport’s top prize.

Here's a look at all the winners since the tournament's inception:

YearEntriesChampionCountry Winning HandPrize
19707Johnny MossUnited States --
19716Johnny MossUnited States -$30,000
19728Thomas "Amarillo Slim" PrestonUnited States {K-Hearts}{J-Diamonds}$80,000
197313Walter "Puggy" PearsonUnited States {A-Spades}{7-Spades}$130,000
197416Johnny MossUnited States {3-Hearts}{3-Spades}$160,000
197521Brian "Sailor" RobertsUnited States {J-Spades}{J-Hearts}$210,000
197622Doyle BrunsonUnited States {10-Spades}{2-Spades}$220,000
197734Doyle BrunsonUnited States {10-Spades}{2-Hearts}$340,000
197842Bobby BaldwinUnited States {Q-Diamonds}{Q-Clubs}$210,000
197954Hal FowlerUnited States {7-Spades}{6-Diamonds}$270,000
198073Stu UngarUnited States {5-Spades}{4-Spades}$385,000
198175Stu UngarUnited States {A-Hearts}{Q-Hearts}$375,000
1982104Jack StrausUnited States {A-Hearts}{10-Spades}$520,000
1983108Tom McEvoyUnited States {Q-Diamonds}{Q-Spades}$540,000
1984132Jack KellerUnited States {10-Hearts}{10-Spades}$660,000
1985140Bill SmithUnited States {3-Spades}{3-Hearts}$700,000
1986141Berry JohnstonUnited States {A-Spades}{10-Hearts}$570,000
1987152Johnny ChanUnited States(born in China){A-Spades}{9-Clubs}$625,000
1988167Johnny ChanUnited States(born in China){J-Clubs}{9-Clubs}$700,000
1989178Phil HellmuthUnited States {9-Spades}{9-Clubs}$755,000
1990194Mansour MatloubiIran {6-Hearts}{6-Spades}$895,000
1991215Brad DaughertyUnited States {K-Spades}{J-Spades}$1,000,000
1992201Hamid DastmalchiIran {8-Hearts}{4-Clubs}$1,000,000
1993220Jim BechtelUnited States {J-Spades}{6-Spades}$1,000,000
1994268Russ HamiltonUnited States {K-Spades}{8-Hearts}$1,000,000
1995273Dan HarringtonUnited States {9-Diamonds}{8-Diamonds}$1,000,000
1996295Huck SeedUnited States {9-Diamonds}{8-Diamonds}$1,000,000
1997312Stu UngarUnited States {A-Hearts}{4-Clubs}$1,000,000
1998350Scotty NguyenUnited States(born in Vietnam){J-Diamonds}{9-Clubs}$1,000,000
1999393Noel FurlongIreland {5-Clubs}{5-Diamonds}$1,000,000
2000512Chris FergusonUnited States {A-Spades}{9-Clubs}$1,500,000
2001613Carlos MortensenSpain(born in Ecuador){K-Clubs}{Q-Clubs}$1,500,000
2002631Robert VarkonyiUnited States {Q-Diamonds}{10-Spades}$2,000,000
2003839Chris MoneymakerUnited States {5-Diamonds}{4-Spades}$2,500,000
20042,576Greg RaymerUnited States {8-Spades}{8-Diamonds}$5,000,000
20055,619Joe HachemAustralia {7-Clubs}{3-Spades}$7,500,000
20068,773Jamie GoldUnited States {Q-Spades}{9-Clubs}$12,000,000
20076,358Jerry YangUnited States(born in Laos){8-Diamonds}{8-Clubs}$8,250,000
20086,844Peter EastgateDenmark {A-Diamonds}{5-Spades}$9,152,416
20096,494Joe CadaUnited States {9-Diamonds}{9-Clubs}$8,547,042
20107,319Jonathan DuhamelCanada {A-Spades}{J-Hearts}$8,944,310
20116,865Pius HeinzGermany {A-Spades}{K-Clubs}$8,715,638
20126,598Greg MersonUnited States {K-Diamonds}{5-Diamonds}$8,531,853
20136,352Ryan RiessUnited States {A-Hearts}{K-Hearts}$8,361,570
20146,683Martin JacobsonSweden {10-Hearts}{10-Diamonds}$10,000,000
20156,420Joe McKeehenUnited States {A-Hearts}{10-Diamonds}$7,683,346
20166,737Qui NguyenUnited States(born in Vietnam){K-Clubs}{10-Clubs}$8,005,310
20177,221Scott BlumsteinUnited States {A-Hearts}{2-Diamonds}$8,150,000
WSOP 2017 Champion Scott Blumstein
Scott Blumstein beat a field of 7,221 to take home the top-prize of $8,150,000 in 2017