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1990 World Series of Poker |
1990 World Series of PokerA summary of 1990 world series of poker.
1990 will prove to be one extremely historic year for the World Series of Poker basically because of two great, but contrasting, reasons. One is truly worth celebrating while the other is a little disheartening.
The first reason involved the WSOP itself because 1990 happened to be the year when the tournament celebrated its 20th anniversary. Quite a lot of poker players found it initially hard to believe, but it was true, it has been a long 20 years since poker aficionado Benny Binion came up with the idea of holding a poker tournament where all the best players around the world would come together and play the game they all love and go home possibly with a big prize on hand. No one expected, perhaps, with the exception of Binion himself, that his dream would eventually grow into an international sensation.
The second reason involved the WSOP mastermind himself -- Benny Binion. It is sad to note that 1990 will also be remembered as the year when Binion failed to witness his creation march into its 20th year, for the year before, Binion decided that it was time to play poker in another life -- the eternal life.
Still, to the many players who took part in the WSOP that year, Binion did not really say goodbye. Everyone felt his presence when the initial games of the event officially started, and this gave them the inspiration to continue with the games, knowing fully well that a truly historic event was taking place.
Of course, the two reasons cited above could not possibly take away the momentous glory that was due Mansour Matloubi, the WSOP grand champion that year, who went home at least $835,000 richer and with a precious WSOP bracelet around his wrist. The victory also gave Matloubi, who hails from Iran, the rare distinction of being named as the first non-Caucasian to bag the title WSOP grand champion since it started 20 years ago.
Finishing at second place that year was Hans 'Tuna' Lund, who earned $334,000. Behind him was Dave Crunkelton who went home with $167,000. Rounding off the final table composition were Jim Ward at the fourth spot, winning $91,850; Berry Johnston landing at fifth place and earning $75,150; and Al Krux at sixth spot, bagging $58,450.
Interestingly, the man that everyone thought would stage a comeback that year in the WSOP, and possibly go on to vie for the WSOP bracelet, did not make it to the final two. Stu 'The Kid, Ungar was being heavily predicted to make an impressive showing that year so he could be crowned as the first WSOP player to successfully capture three consecutive main event victories. Unfortunately, fate had other things in mind, and Ungar had to settle for the ninth place in the final event. As a consolation though, Ungar did get to be counted as among the high finishers of the WSOP that year.
A total of 194 players were able to gain entry to the final event of that year's WSOP and each of them paid the required buy-in of $10,000. The number was staggering considering that 20 years before, the tournament started with only seven participating players. Clearly, Binion must have totally enjoyed himself watching his dream become a full-grown reality.
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