ABOUT
The World Series of Poker Main Event has been held annually in Las Vegas since 1970, when Johnny Moss was voted champion by his peers. The introduction of a freeze-out format in 1971 formalized the $10,000 buy-in structure that has defined the event ever since. The 2003 victory of Chris Moneymaker — a Tennessee accountant who qualified through a $39 online satellite — triggered the global poker boom that transformed the game forever.
The Main Event typically attracts between 6,000 and 10,000 players, creating prize pools exceeding $60 million in peak years. The November Nine format (2008–2017) split the final table across two broadcast events, bringing mainstream media attention to the sport. Today the final table is played out in a single session, with the champion's coronation representing the sport's biggest moment each year.
Past champions include legends like Doyle Brunson, Stu Ungar (three-time champion), Phil Hellmuth, and Johnny Chan, alongside remarkable amateurs like Moneymaker, Greg Raymer, and Joe Hachem whose victories perfectly captured the tournament's democratic spirit — any player, with any background, can sit down and change their life.
How to Qualify
Pay the $10,000 buy-in directly. Alternatively, win or buy into satellite tournaments at Horseshoe Las Vegas during the WSOP series (June–July), or qualify through online satellites on platforms like WSOP.com, GGPoker, or 888poker, which offer seats for as little as a few dollars.
Notable Champions
- Doyle Brunson (1976, 1977)
- Stu Ungar (1980, 1981, 1997)
- Johnny Chan (1987, 1988)
- Phil Hellmuth (1989)
- Chris Moneymaker (2003)
- Phil Ivey (Final Table 2009)
- Koray Aldemir (2021)
- Espen Jorstad (2022)