WSOP Main Event shows how Far Poker has Come
When people want a link to poker’s past, they often consult Doyle Brunson. The 75 year-old not only grew up playing poker in the dusty towns of Texas, but he was also a participant in the early days of the World Series of Poker. Back then, Brunson explained that he left the 1972 WSOP (faking an illness) because TV cameras started showing up and Doyle didn’t want people knowing he played poker for a living. Brunson reasoned that people in the 70’s looked down on gamblers and he didn’t want anyone knowing about his profession.
My how things have changed since nearly 7,000 people descend on Las Vegas for the biggest poker event in the world. TV cameras are always present and the media wants to interview all of the stars at the Main Event. With all of this going on, it’s pretty clear that Doyle Brunson wouldn’t be able to get away with faking illness because everyone would then know about it.
To get a glimpse of how big the WSOP has gotten, consider that only 839 people entered the Main Event in 2003 when Chris Moneymaker maker won it all. Last year, over 6,900 people attended the Main Event in hopes of taking home the big prize. And the big prize is yet another indication of how huge the Main Event has gotten since Moneymaker took home a then record $2.5 million while 2008 Main Event champ Peter Eastgate hauled in over $9.1 million for his win.
It’s unclear as to how much bigger the WSOP will get, but I suspect that the numbers will only go up. This is especially true if the United States ever decides to lift the UIGEA that they imposed in 2006 since it will attract more casual players to the game.