Hey, Poker Playas

The World Series of Poker is happening now and to win a bracelet is the pinnacle of a lot of poker players’ dreams.

But what is the World Series of Poker, and what is the bracelet? here is a quick guide.

The World Series of Poker

The World Series of Poker (WSOP) is a series of poker tournaments held annually in Las Vegas.

It is the biggest poker series in the world and it actually started differently from what it is now.

It started in Texas!

The idea of a World Series of Poker began in 1969 with an event called the Texas Gambling Reunion.

It was actually an invitational poker event sponsored by Tom Moore of Castle Hills, Texas, and held at the Holiday Hotel and Casino in Reno. Far from where it is being held now.

This inaugural event was won by Crandell Addington

El Dorado

The set of tournaments that the World Series of Poker (WSOP) would evolve into was the brainchild of Las Vegas casino owner and poker player Benny Binion.

Benny Binion bought the Eldorado Club and Hotel Apache in 1951, re-opening them as Binion’s Horseshoe (also called the Horseshoe Casino).

He got interested in the Texas gambling reunion and took the idea and started the World Series of Poker.

The first champion was by vote

the first WSOP was. a series of cash games being held at Binion’s Horseshoe. There was five-card stud, deuce to seven low-ball draw, razz, seven-card stud, and Texas hold ’em.

The winner in 1970 was Johnny Moss who was elected by his peers.

The first “World Champion of Poker” and received a silver cup as a prize.

Ceasars Entertainment

Back in In 2004, Caesars Entertainment, which was Harrah’s Entertainment back then, purchased Binion’s Horseshoe,

They retained the rights to the Horseshoe and World Series of Poker brands.

Laster on they sold the hotel and casino to MTR Gaming Group. but maintained the right to the WSOP. In 2005 The world Series of poker would be held at the Harrah’s-owned Rio Hotel and Casino, located just off the Las Vegas Strip.

The Bracelet

Since 1976, a bracelet has been awarded to the winner of every event at the annual WSOP.

In the first years of the WSOP, only a handful of bracelets were awarded each year. In 1990, there were only 14 bracelet events.

By 2000, that number increased to 24. As the popularity of poker has increased during the 2000s, the number of events has likewise increased.

At first the bracelet did not have much value. but as time pass by, it became the symbol of becoming a true champion.

2000’s

As the prestige of the World Series grew, so did the players. The WSOP did help the industry grow even in the Philippines.

A lot of the veterans and the people that brought the game to Manila came from Las Vegas or have played in Vegas. Hence the fame of the WSOP became the goal for poker players even in the Philippines.

Filipinos would actually go there but the bracelet was elusive.

back in 2012, A Filipino name Jay Lubas became the chip leader for multiple days and was on the featured table. but we never got close to the bracelet until 2018.

Mike Takayama, the first homegrown filipino to win a bracelet.

For the first time in the illustrious 49-year history of the World Series of Poker, Lupang Hinirang was played.

Filipino poker wiz Mike Takayama bagged Event #59 of the WSOP to bring home the country’s first-ever gold bracelet,

In a field of 2,065 players that included 14-time WSOP bracelet holder Phil Hellmuth, six-time bracelet winner Chris Ferguson, three-time World Champion Michael Mizrachi, and three-time bracelet winner Shaun Deeb.

A Filipino won!

And that win inspired a lot of Filipinos to venture deeper. Aim higher.

And this is where our story begins