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

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

Day 1a Started

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

More Action

The Main Event has traditionally been the penultimate or last WSOP tournament of the summer, but things are a little different this time around. There's still a plethora of tournaments to be played, the majority running alongside the Main Event. The $1,000,000 buy-in Big One for One Drop is even to follow after the Main Event has wrapped up, running July 15 through 17. Here's what's still to be played:

#EventDates
66$1,500 No-Limit Hold'emJuly 05-07, 2018
67$1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha BountyJuly 06-08, 2018
68$1,000 + $111 The Little One for One Drop No-Limit Hold'emJuly 07-11, 2018
69$3,000 Pot-Limit Omaha 6-HandedJuly 08-10, 2018
70$3,000 Limit Hold'em 6-HandedJuly 09-12, 2018
71$5,000 No-Limit Hold'em (30 minute levels)July 10-12, 2018
72$1,500 Mixed No-Limit Hold'em/Pot-Limit Omaha 8-HandedJuly 10-12, 2018
73$1,000 DOUBLE STACK No-Limit Hold'em (30 minute levels)July 11-12, 2018
74$10,000 No-Limit Hold'em 6-Handed ChampionshipJuly 11-13, 2018
75$1,500 The Closer No-Limit Hold'em (30 minute levels) - $1 Million GuaranteeJuly 12-15, 2018
76$3,000 H.O.R.S.E.July 12-14, 2018
77$50,000 No-Limit Hold'em High RollerJuly 13-14, 2018
78$1,000,000 The Big One for One DropJuly 15-17, 2018

A Long Summer

While the Main Event is just about to get underway, a plethora of events are already in the books. The 2018 WSOP kicked off May 31st with the $565 Employees Event.

Since then, dozens of events have been played, and PokerNews.com was there for each and every one of them. Millions in prize money has been rewarded, hundreds of thousands of hands have been dealt. Take a look at all the results up until now:

#EventEntriesPrize PoolWinnerPrize
1$565 Casino Employees No-Limit Hold'em566$283,000Jordan Hufty$61,909
2$10,000 Super Turbo Bounty No-Limit Hold'em243$2,284,200Elio Fox$393,693
3$3,000 No-Limit Hold'em SHOOTOUT363$980,100Joe Cada$226,218
4$1,500 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better911$1,229,850Julien Martini$239,771
5$100,000 No-Limit Hold’em High Roller105$10,185,000Nick Petrangelo$2,910,227
6$365 GIANT No-Limit Hold'em8,920$2,676,000Jeremy Perrin$250,000
7$565 COLOSSUS No-Limit Hold’em13,070$6,535,000Roberly Felicio$1,000,000
8$2,500 Mixed Triple Draw Lowball321$722,250Johannes Becker$180,455
9$10,000 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship169$1,588,600Paul Volpe$417,921
10$365 WSOP.com ONLINE No-Limit Hold'em2,972$974,816William ‘Twooopair’ Reymond$154,996
11$365 PLO GIANT Pot-Limit Omaha3,250$975,000 $116,015
12$1,500 Dealer's Choice 6-Handed406$548,100Jeremy Harkin$129,882
13$1,500 Big Blind Antes No-Limit Hold'em1,306$1,763,100Benjamin Moon$315,346
14$1,500 No-Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw260$351,000Daniel Ospina$87,678
15$1,500 H.O.R.S.E.731$986,850Andrey Zhigalov$202,787
16$10,000 Heads-Up No-Limit Hold'em Championship114$1,074,600Justin Bonomo185,965
17$1,500 No-Limit Hold'em 6-Handed1,663$2,245,050Ognyan Dimov$378,743
18$10,000 Dealer's Choice 6-Handed111$1,043,400Adam Friedman$293,275
19$565 Pot-Limit Omaha2,419$1,209,500Craig Varnell$181,790
20$5,000 No-Limit Hold'em518$2,408,700Jeremy Wien$537,710
21$1,500 No-Limit Hold'em MILLIONAIRE MAKER7,361$9,937,350Arne Kern$1,173,223
22$1,500 Eight Game Mix481$649,350Philip Long$147,348
23$10,000 No-Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw Championship95$893,000Brian Rast$259,670
24$2,620 THE MARATHON No-Limit Hold'em1,637$3,860,046Michael Addamo$653,581
25$1,500 Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better596$804,600Benjamin Dobson$173,528
26$1,000 Pot-Limit Omaha986$887,400Filippos Stavrakis$169,842
27$10,000 H.O.R.S.E. Championship166$1,560,400John Hennigan$414,692
28$3,000 No-Limit Hold'em 6-Handed868$2,343,600Gal Yifrach$461,798
29$1,500 Limit 2-7 Lowball Triple Draw356$480,600Hanh Tran$117,282
30$1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha799$1,078,650Ryan Bambrick$217,123
31$1,500 Seven Card Stud310$418,500Steven Albini$105,629
32$1,000 Seniors No-Limit Hold'em Championship519$5,327,100Matthew Davis$662,983
33$50,000 Poker Players Championship87$4,176,000Michael Mizrachi$1,239,126
34$1,000 DOUBLE STACK No-Limit Hold'em5,700$5,130,000Robert Peacock$644,224
35$1,500 Mixed Omaha773$1,043,550Yueqi Zhu$211,781
36$1,000 Super Seniors No-Limit Hold'em2,191$1,971,900Farhintaj Bonyadi$311,451
37$1,500 No-Limit Hold'em1,330$1,795,500Eric Baldwin$319,580
38$10,000 Seven Card Stud Championship83$780,200Yaniv Birman$236,238
39$1,500 No-Limit Hold'em Shootout908$1,225,800Preston Lee$236,498
40$2,500 Mixed Big Bet205$461,250Scott Bohlman$122,138
41$1,500 Limit Hold'em596$804,600Robert Nehorayan$173,568
42$25,000 Pot-Limit Omaha 8-Handed High Roller230$5,462,500Shaun Deeb$1,402,683
43$2,500 No-Limit Hold'em1,248$2,808,000Timur Margolin$507,274
44$10,000 Limit 2-7 Lowball Triple Draw Championship109$1,024,600Nicholas Seiken$287,987
45Big Blind Antes $1,000 No-Limit Hold'em (30 minute levels)1,712$1,540,800Mario Prats Garcia$258,255
46$2,500 Mixed Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better/Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better402$904,500David Brookshire$214,291
47$565 WSOP.com ONLINE Pot-Limit Omaha 6-Handed1,223$635,960Matthew 'mendey' Mendez$135,078
48$1,500 No-Limit Hold'em MONSTER STACK6,260$8,451,000Tommy Nguyen$1,037,451
49$10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha 8-Handed Championship476$4,474,400Loren Klein$1,018,336
50$1,500 Razz389$525,150Jay Kwon$125,431
51$1,500 No-Limit Hold'em Bounty1,983$2,677,050Ryan Leng$272,504
52$10,000 Limit Hold'em Championship114$1,071,600Scott Seiver$296,222
53Event #53: $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better935$1,262,250Joseph Couden$244,370
54Big Blind Antes $3,000 No-Limit Hold'em1,020$2,754,000Diogo Veiga$522,715
55$1,000 Tag Team No-Limit Hold'em1,032$928,800Giuseppe Pantaleo - Nikita Luther$175,805
56$10,000 Razz Championship119$1,118,600Calvin Anderson$309,220
57$1,000/$10,000 Ladies No-Limit Hold'em Championship696$626,400Jessica Dawley$130,230
58$5,000 No-Limit Hold'em 6-Handed621$2,766,750Jean-Robert Bellande$616,302
59$1,000 No-Limit Hold'em Super Turbo Bounty2,065$1,858,500Mike Takayama$198,568
60$10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship218$2,049,200 $567,788
61$1,000 WSOP.com ONLINE No-Limit Hold'em Championship1,635$1,553,250Ryan 'Toosick' Tosoc$238,778
62$888 Crazy Eights No-Limit Hold'em 8-Handed - $888,888 Guaranteed 1st Place8,598$6,871,521 $888,888
63$3,200 WSOP.com ONLINE No-Limit Hold'em High Roller480$1,459,200Chance 'BingShui' Kornuth$341,598
64$10,000 Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship141$1,325,400 $364,387

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------

Day 1a Structure

At 11 a.m., players start with 50,000 in chips. Levels are 120 minutes long throughout. After every level, players have a 20-minute break. The dinner break, 60 minutes long, takes place after Level 2, which should be around 3:25 p.m.

Late registration for Day 1a of the 2017 WSOP Main Event is open for three levels, registration closes around 7:10 p.m. If you're too late, there's always tomorrow (Day 1b) and Wednesday (Day 1c). Day 1a wraps up around 11:00 p.m.

LevelDurationSmall BlindBig BlindAnte
1120 minutes75150-
 20-minute break   
2120 minutes150300-
 60-minute break   
3120 minutes15030025
 20-minute break   
4120 minutes20040050
 20-minute break   
5120 minutes25050075

Players to survive today return to the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino Thursday, July 5, 2018, to play another five levels on Day 2ab.

Today's action starts at 11 a.m. PokerNews will be there the entire day with live updates from around the convention center of the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino. Besides live updates, you can follow along via ESPN2 and PokerGO.

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

Shuffle Up and Deal!

Scott Blumstein Shuffle Up and Deal on Day 1A of the 2018 Main Event
Scott Blumstein Shuffle Up and Deal on Day 1A of the 2018 Main Event

The Amazon room has been filling up slowly but surely with players in the Orange, Purple and Gold section and they have been instructed with the official rules for the tournament, the daily schedule and the remainder of the tournament.

"How is everyone doing today?" WSOP tournament director Jack Effel said when taking over the microphone and welcoming all players, triggering applause across the room. In his 14th year in charge, Effel then handed over the duties to defending Main Event champion Scott Blumstein

"Alright everyone, shuffle up and deal!" Blumstein announced after giving some advice that worked out for him in the previous year and right after, the cards went in the air.

Tags: Jack EffelScott Blumstein

Level: 1

Blinds: 75/150

Ante: 0