WSOP Opens Poll for 50th Annual Honors with Prizes Available
Table Of Contents
The occasion of the 50th running of the World Series of Poker seems as appropriate a time as any to look back on the rich history of poker's most legendary event and think about its greatest players and most poignant moments.
The WSOP brass is going one step further, opening public polls to let the people decide such things, with prizes available to those who participate.
Voting is open until June 15, and winners will be announced at a special dinner set to take place June 29.
"From its founding by the Binion family in 1970, no one could have foreseen what the modern-day World Series of Poker has become,” says WSOP Executive Director Ty Stewart. “It’s only fitting we take an evening out from poker playing to celebrate the great game of poker and all the characters who have made a mark on the WSOP over the past five decades.”
The Awards
Note that all awards also include the option to submit a write-in candidate. Fans in the U.S. and Canada can vote on awards by clicking this link. Meanwhile, international fans can follow this link.
Most Memorable WSOP TV Hand
- Jonathan Duhamel Cracks Matt Affleck's Aces, 2010 WSOP Main Event
- Chris Moneymaker Bluffs Sammy Farha, 2003 WSOP Main Event
- Johnny Chan Busts Erik Seidel to Win WSOP, 1988 WSOP Main Event
- Connor Drinan Loses With Aces Against Aces, 2014 WSOP Big One for One Drop
- Chris Moneymaker Busts Phil Ivey, 2003 WSOP Main Event
- Scotty Nguyen Goads Kevin McBride into Calling, 1998 WSOP Main Event
Best WSOP Performance
- George Danzer, 2014 — 3 bracelets, 5 final tables, 11 cashes, $960,424 winnings
- Shaun Deeb, 2018 — 2 bracelets, 4 final tables, 20 cashes, $2,545,478 winnings
- Phil Hellmuth, 1993 – 3 bracelets, 4 final tables, 4 cashes, $544,900 in winnings
- Phil Ivey, 2002 – 3 bracelets, 7 final tables, 7 cashes, $415,200 winnings
- Jeff Lisandro, 2009 – 3 bracelets, 4 final tables, 6 cashes, $807,521
- Daniel Negreanu, 2013 – 2 bracelets, 4 final tables, 10 cashes, $2,214,304 winnings
Most Likely to Succeed (Player < 35 to Win Most Bracelets Next 50 Years)
- Justin Bonomo (33)
- Joe Cada (31)
- Shaun Deeb (33)
- Fedor Holz (25)
- Jason Mercier (32)
- Dominik Nitsche (28)
Fan Favorite
- Doyle Brunson
- Antonio Esfandiari
- Phil Hellmuth
- Maria Ho
- Phil Ivey
- Daniel Negreanu
Favorite WSOP Bad Boy
- Jamie Gold
- Phil Hellmuth
- Will Kassouf
- Mike Matusow
- Shawn Sheikhan
- Dave Ulliott
Most Impressive Main Event Win
- Johnny Chan, 1988
- Jamie Gold, 2006
- Phil Hellmuth, 1989
- Martin Jacobson, 2014
- Chris Moneymaker, 2003
- Jack Strauss, 1982
- Stu Ungar, 1997
Most Important Players in WSOP History (Pick Four)
- Billy Baxter
- Doyle Brunson
- Johnny Chan
- TJ Cloutier
- Chris Ferguson
- Ted Forrest
- Phil Hellmuth
- John Hennigan
- Phil Ivey
- Chris Moneymaker
- Michael Mizrachi
- Johnny Moss
- Daniel Negreanu
- Scotty Nguyen
- Puggy Pearson
- Amarillo Slim
- Chip Reese
- Erik Seidel
- Vanessa Selbst
- Stu Ungar
Prizes and the First Fifty Honors Gala
Voters from eligible locales in the U.S. and Canada will be entered into a random drawing. Prizes include seats into Event #69: $1,000 Mini Main Event, seats into Event #88: $500 WSOP.com Online Summer Saver, WSOP merchandise, and tickets to the special dinner, dubbed "First 50 Honors."
All votes must be cast by June 15.
The First 50 Honors Gala will take place in the Brasilia Room starting at 8 p.m. on June 29. All gold bracelet winners are invited along with select VIPs, with Norman Chad and Lon McEachern hosting.
Finally, a special panel of poker media members will vote on the 50 greatest players in WSOP history. All players who have participated in a WSOP event are eligible.
