What Is 10th World Series of Poker

Overview

The 10th Annual World Series of Poker took place from May 11-27, 1979 at the legendary Binion's Horseshoe Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. This edition of the prestigious poker tournament series marked a watershed moment in the history of the game, transforming poker from a secretive professionals-only competition into a legitimate sport with mainstream appeal and institutional recognition. The 1979 WSOP would forever change the landscape of competitive poker and demonstrate that the game had the potential to reach far beyond its traditional audience.

The tenth iteration of the World Series of Poker represented a significant milestone in the nine-year history of the tournament series, which had been founded in 1970 by legendary casino operator Benny Binion. From its humble beginnings with just seven players, the WSOP had grown into a major event featuring multiple tournaments and hundreds of participants from across North America and beyond. The 1979 edition would introduce innovations, establish lasting institutions, and produce results that would resonate throughout poker history for decades to come.

How It Works

The World Series of Poker operates as a festival of poker tournaments held annually, featuring dozens of events with varying formats, buy-in levels, and game types. Players compete in multiple tournament formats throughout the series, with the Main Event serving as the championship event and the most prestigious competition. Each tournament awards a WSOP Bracelet to the winner, making it the sport's most coveted prize.

• Main Event: The championship tournament of the series where the champion receives the largest prize pool and most recognition; in 1979, the Main Event featured a $270,000 first-place prize
• Preliminary Events: Multiple side tournaments held throughout the series offering different game variations and buy-in levels; the 1979 WSOP featured 11 preliminary events in addition to the Main Event
• Game Variations: Events are played in various poker formats including Texas Hold'em, Seven-Card Stud, Omaha, Draw poker, and mixed games to test different skill sets
• Buy-In Structure: Tournaments feature different entry fees ranging from small preliminary events to expensive championship competitions, allowing players of various bankroll sizes to participate
• Prize Distribution: Winners receive both a WSOP Bracelet and monetary prize, with deeper finishes earning additional cash payouts according to predetermined pay structures
• Mixed Doubles Events: Special tournaments pairing two players together as a team, first introduced at the 1979 WSOP as an innovative format

Key Details

The 1979 World Series of Poker introduced several historic firsts and notable achievements that solidified its importance in poker history:

The seven inaugural members of the Poker Hall of Fame included Johnny Moss, Nick Dandolas, Felton McCorquodale, Red Winn, Sid Wyman, James Butler Hickok, and Edmond Hoyle. Additionally, Johnny Moss became the first player in WSOP history to accumulate seven career bracelets, cementing his legacy as one of poker's all-time greats.

Why It Matters

• Legitimacy and Growth: The 1979 WSOP demonstrated that poker could be a prestigious, organized sporting event with institutional structure, attracting serious competitors and media attention that would fuel exponential growth throughout the 1980s and beyond
• Democratization of Poker: Hal Fowler's victory as an amateur proved that professional status was not a prerequisite for winning at the highest levels, opening poker competition to anyone with skill and determination regardless of background
• Establishment of Standards: The creation of the Poker Hall of Fame established lasting standards for recognizing poker excellence and created a framework for evaluating players' contributions to the game
• Economic Significance: The breakthrough of $1 million in total prize money demonstrated poker's ability to generate substantial revenue and attract high-stakes competition, proving the economic viability of professional poker tournaments
• Innovation in Formats: The introduction of mixed doubles and expanded preliminary events showed the WSOP's commitment to innovation and accessibility, creating more diverse tournament options for different player preferences

The 10th World Series of Poker stands as one of the most important editions in the tournament's history, representing the moment when poker transitioned from a niche gambling activity into a legitimate sport with recognized champions, institutional structures, and mainstream appeal. The innovations introduced in 1979, from the Poker Hall of Fame to the expansion of tournament offerings, established templates that continue to define the WSOP and competitive poker more broadly. This pivotal year demonstrated that poker had the depth, skill requirements, and cultural resonance to support a thriving professional ecosystem that would continue expanding and evolving for decades to come.