Wednesday, 08 October 2008


1984 World Series Of Poker

A summary of 1984 world series of poker.



Following the success of the previous World Series Of Poker (WSOP) tournament, the 1984 contest was no less exciting and entertaining.  Aside from the pot money and the title, WSOP bracelets are trophies that all serious poker players aspire to have.  These prizes make each WSOP tourney such a well-received event yearly.  Once again, popular poker players from all over the world returned to compete against each other to be the next poker champion.  Bobby Baldwin, Cowboy Wolford, Jesse Alto, Puggy Pearson, and Jack Keller were just some of the names that were sighted in the said tournament.  The event was held at the Bionon's Horsehoe casino on May 14, where 132 professional poker players battled it out for the $1,320,000 pot money.  Of the numerous finalists, eight out of the ten previous WSOP champions showed up to fight for the money and the title for World Poker Champion.  

Poker is a game where skills and inborn talent are utilized to figure out odds and probabilities during a card game.  It is no surprise that players with different playing strategies and strengths meet each other at the tables during the WSOP.  Players who know how to bluff properly often have the advantage, while those with luck also find themselves faring well.  The fight was tough and was only fit for the best.  By the last part of the first tournament day, almost half of the players lost and was asked to leave the tables.  Only seventy-two players were qualified to advance to the second competition day.  

The competition took a surprising turn during the second day, when more than half of the contestants lost and were asked to leave the tables.  From seventy-two, the numbers went down dramatically to twenty-seven.  Of the eight former WSOP champions who joined the tournament, only two -- Bobby Baldwin and Puggy Pearson -- were the ones left standing.  Similarly, day three of the WSOP tournament was just as tough, if not tougher, than the previous day.  May 16 showed a surprising change in the tide.  During the frenzy and the whirlwind of poker games, many players became causalities and were forced to leave the tables.  Once the dust settled, only nine out of the twenty-seven remained.  To the disappointment of their fans and fellow former champions, Baldwin and Pearson were unable to push through, as the two lost to more skilled poker players.  It was obvious that the 1984 WSOP would be a repeat of the previous one, where no champion was able to make it to the last round.  

The final tournament day showed off the poker game prowess of the remaining nine players.  As people wondered on the identity of the new player to be inducted into the WSOP hall of champions, the competition turned even more fierce as the contest neared its end.  At that time, it was Jesse Alto who held the lead with $369,000.  He was closely followed by Jack Keller who had $318,000, while the last one of the nine was Howard "Tahoe" Andrew who had the smallest amount, with $27,000.  Again, the game proved to be unpredictable, as the first person who was forced to leave was Rusty LaPage.  As the game continued, the other players soon fell one by one, until the match was fixed between two players -- Bryon Wolford and Jack Keller.  Going head to head, Keller played aggressively, enabling him to come on top.  Keller won the WSOP championship title and $1,320,000 of pot money.  For die-hard poker players and fans, the 1984 WSOP tournament is a game that was surprising and exciting.  The final nine players who battled it out for the last time proved that poker is a game of chance and skill.  New champions often emerge and join the ranks of expert players, while the more seasoned ones are surprised with the outcome of the game.