WSOP Winners 1970-2007

2007 - Jerry Yang
Jerry Yang came to the final table of the 2007 WSOP Main Event one of the short-stacks, but managed to turn things around. He caught a runner-runner straight to beat Tuan Lam in the heads-up match for the title and $8.25 million in prize money.

2006 - Jamie Gold
Jamie Gold put up an amazing performance in the 2006 WSOP Main Event. The Hollywood agent held the chip lead from day 3 all the way to the end, and took home the biggest prize check in poker history - $12 million. In the final hand, Gold flopped a pair of queens to beat Paul Wasicka's pocket tens.

2005 - Joseph Hachem
"The Aussie" flopped a straight and tricked his opponent Steve Dannenmann by slow playing. When Dannenmann made a pair of Aces on the turn he moved all-in and the game was over. Hachem called, took home the title and $7,500,000 in prize money.

2004 - Greg Raymer
Like Chris Moneymaker, Greg "Fossilman" Raymer qualified for the WSOP via an online tournament. Pocket 8's was the winning hand for Raymer - his opponent David Williams had A-4. Neither player hit their hand, but three 2's came on the board and Raymer won with a full house. "The Fossilman" got $5,000,000 in prize money.

2003 - Chris Moneymaker
Moneymaker is probably the most famous WSOP winner. He qualified for the main event through a $40 online satellite, and went on to become world champion. In the final hand against Sam Fahra he sat with 5d-4s and made a full house (4's full of 5's) on the river. "I've played lots of heads-up matches on the Internet, so I knew which hands can win at heads-up play. I was lucky to flop two pair when Sammy had top pair on the final hand. I'm still in shock", said Moneymaker, who got $2,500,000 for the victory.

2002 - Robert Varkonyi
Julian Gardner made a Queen high flush on the river in the final hand, but still lost. The final card (10c) also gave Robert Varkonyi a full hose (10's full of Q's). Varkonyi won the title and $2,000,000.

2001 - Carlos Mortensen
Like in 2000, a 9 on the river decided the WSOP 2001. Dewey Tomko had pocket A's and moved all-in on a Jd-10c-3c flop. However, Mortensen sat with Kc-Qc, and thus had both a flush draw and an open-ended straight draw. He called and made the nut straight on the river. The victory gave him $1,500,000.

2000 - Chris Ferguson
A miracle 9 on the river made Chris "Jesus" Ferguson World Champion. He sat with A-9 against T J Cloutiers A-Q (no one had improved before the river), and had only three outs to win the hand. He got what he needed and the win gave him $1,500,000 in prize money.

1999 - Noel Furlong
At the start of the final hand Furlong was in a really bad position with pocket 5's against Alan Goehring's pocket 6's. However, Furlong flopped a full house (5's full of Q's) and became World Champion of Poker. The win gave him $1,000,000.

1998 - Scotty Nguyen
After his $310,000 bet on the river famous trash talker Nguyen said this to his opponent Kevin McBride: "You call this one and it's all over baby". At this point there was a full house on the board (8c-9d-9h-8h-8s). McBride decided to play the board, and Nguyen, who had check-called on the flop and turn, revealed the 9c that gave him the higher full house, and the title. Nguyen received a prize check of $1,000,000.

1997 - Stu Ungar
"The Kid" made this comment after his third WSOP victory: "If every hand from start to finish was filmed - every bet, every raise, even every fold - players would witness a classic performance. It was a no-limit Hold'em clinic". However, in the final hand against John Strzemp, Ungar was very lucky. He was saved by a 2 on the river that gave him an Ace high straight, the title and $1,000,000.

1996 - Huck Seed
In the final hand Seed flopped two pair (9's and 8's), and his opponent Van Horn a pair of 8's. Van Horn went all-in, but didn't get any help on the turn or river. Seed won the title and $1,000,000.

1995 - Dan Harrington
Harrington flopped top pair (8's) in the final hand, but decided to check. Howard Goldfarb swallowed the bait moved all-in with Ace high (A-7). Harrington called instantly, and his hand held up all the way. The win gave "Action Dan" $1,000,000.

1994 - Russ Hamilton
Hamilton and his opponent Hugh Vincent both flopped a pair of 8's in the final hand. Hamilton's stronger kicker (K against 5) gave him the victory and $1,000,000.

1993 - Jim Bechtel
Short stacked Glen Cozen went all-in with 7-4, and Bechtel called with J-6. No one improved and Bechtel was the new World Champion of Poker. He received $1,000,000 in prize money.

1992 - Hamid Datsmalchi
Tom Jacobs flopped top pair in the final hand and decided to slow play it. However, his tactic backfired, and Datsmalchi made an 8 high straight on the turn. The Iranian born won the title and $1,000,000.

1991 - Brad Daugherty
Daugherty won the title thanks to a miss timed bluff by his opponent Russel Holt. Holt went all-in after the flop with absolutely nothing, and Daughery called with top pair (J's). That solid call was worth $1,000,000.

1990 - Mansour Matloubi
Matloubi, the first European to become World Champion of Poker, secured his victory against Hand Lund with pocket 6's against pocket 4's. However, the match deciding hand came a bit earlier when Matloubi made a set of T's on the river and stayed in the tournament. He got $895,000 for the victory.

1989 - Phil Hellmuth Jr.
Once again Johnny Chan played heads up for the WSOP title, but this time he lost. Phil Hellmuth moved all-in with pocket 9's, and Chan called with A-7s. Chan didn't get the help he needed, and Hellmuth won the title and $755,000.

1988 - Johnny Chan
This is one of the most classic final WSOP hands. Chan flopped a Queen high straight and tricked Seidel, who had top pair, into moving all-in on the turn. Chan won the title for a second year in a row. This time he got $700,000 in prize money.

1987 - Johnny Chan
Frank Henderson moved all-in with pocket 4's, Chan called with A-9. The Chinese born poker shark found a 9 on the river, and became World Champion of Poker. The victory gave him $625,000.

1986 - Berry Johnston
A true gentleman at the poker table. In 1986 he became World Champion of Poker, and was rewarded with $570,000.

1985 - Bill Smith
In the final hand T J Cloutier moved all-in with A-3. Smith called with pocket 3's, and held on all the way. The victory gave him $700,000.

1984 - Jack Keller
One of the most aggressive and risk taking players of all times. In 1984 his "never say die" attitude won him the WSOP title and $660,000.

1983 - Tom McEvoy
Tom McEvoy has written many books on how to win the World Series of Poker. In 1983 he did it himself and got $580,000 for his efforts.

1982 - Jack Straus
Probably the most remarkable WSOP victory of all. At one point Straus moved all-in against an opponent with more chips - and lost! However, when he was leaving the table he discovered that he had missed to put one of his $500 chips on the table. Since he hadn't said "all-in" he was allowed to continue playing. Amazingly, he went on to win the title and $520,000.

1981 - Stu Ungar
Ungar's second WSOP win was less dramatic. His opponent Perry Green flopped an open-ended straight draw, but didn't get the help he needed. Instead Ungar made a pair of Q's (he was already in the lead with A-Qh) on the river. He won the title and $375,000.

1980 - Stu Ungar
"The Kid" clashed with Doyle Brunson in the heads up match for the WSOP title. Brunson flopped two pair (A's and 7's), but Ungar (with 5-4s) made a 5 high straight on the turn, and thereby secured his $385,000 victory.

1979 - Hal Fowler
In the final hand Fowler, who claimed to be an amateur, went up against Bobby Hoff's pocket A's with only 7-6 off suit. Hoff was an 80 % favorite to win at the start, but Fowler made the nut straight on the turn, and took home $230,000.

1978 - Bobby Baldwin
In 1977, Baldwin won the Seven-Card Stud and Deuce-to-Seven Lowball championship. In 1978 this extremely skilled poker player won the main event and $210,000.

1977 - Doyle Brunson
Amazingly, Brunson won the WSOP a second year in a row with 10-2 as pocket cards in the final hand. And once again, he made a full house on the turn and river. Brunson got $340,000 for this win.

1976 - Doyle Brunson
Jesse Alto looked sure to double up when he flopped two pair (A's and J's) against Brunson's pair of 10's. However, "Texas Dolly" got a 2 on the turn to make two pair. On the river another 10 came and Brunson was World Champion, winning $220,000.

1975 - Brian "Sailor" Roberts
Robert's pocket 9's held up against Bok Hook's "Big Slick" in the final hand. "The sailor" received $210,000 in prize money.

1974 - Johnny Moss
For the third time in five years Johnny Moss became World Champion of Poker. This victory gave Moss $160,000.

1973 - Puggy Pearson
This was the first year that the WSOP was videotaped. Pearson secured his $130,000 win with only Ace high.

1972 - Amarillo "Slim" Preston
Another true poker legend took home the third WSOP title. The victory gave "Slim" $80,000.

1971 - Johnny Moss
In the second year, the freezeout tournament structure was introduced. Once again, Johnny Moss showed his superior ability and won ($30,000).

1970 - Johnny Moss
"If you haven't lost a game to Johnny Moss, you haven't really played poker". The greatest of poker legends won the first WSOP following a vote among the participating players.