1972 World Series of Poker
| 1972 World Series of Poker | |
|---|---|
| Location | Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Dates | May 7 – 16 |
| Champion | |
 Amarillo Slim | |
The 1972 World Series of Poker (WSOP) was a series of
Preliminary event
The preliminary event had a very small turnout, featuring only last year's 5-card stud champion Bill Boyd, and an unknown player. The event was played out on May 7, and Boyd relieved the other player of his money, cashing for $20K.[2] Boyd went on to win 2 more 5-card stud events in 1973 and 1974 until 5-card stud was dropped from the WSOP slate due to waning popularity.[3][4]
| Event | Winner | Prize | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| $10K Limit 5-Card Stud
|
Bill Boyd | $20K | Unknown |
Main Event
12 people were slated to appear at the main event, but due to reportedly attractive side
With 4 players left on the 2nd day of the tournament,
Jack Binion was very cross with the outcome, as players openly changed their play to let Slim win. He held a meeting with the players in the Sombrero room of the Binion's Horseshoe, demanding that players resume fair play. Brunson laid out his reasons and Binion allowed him to withdraw from the tournament and cash his chips, while the reason for Brunson's departure was reported to be an stomachache.[5][8] The sum that Brunson received in the end is disputed; some sources lay out figures as low as $20K, while according to Des Wilson, Brunson might have left the tournament with as much as half the prizepool.[7][8][9]
After Brunson left, Pearson and Slim resumed play. According to Slim, Pearson was not content with the deal and was still trying to win the tournament, but in the end Jack Binion reportedly persuaded him to
"[Pearson] was trying [to win the tournament] right up to the last 30 minutes. That's when it happened. They knew they couldn't get any publicity out of it if Doyle [Brunson] won it. That's not putting Doyle down – Doyle just wasn't a talker in those days. And Puggy [Pearson] wouldn't have been a good choice because about half the people he had screwed over the years were bound to say a few things. So I was the pick for winning it."
| Place | Name | Prize[a] |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Thomas "Amarillo Slim" Preston[b] | $80K |
| 2nd | Walter "Puggy" Pearson | None |
| 3rd | Doyle Brunson[c] | None |
| 4th | Crandell Addington[d] | None |
| 5th | Jack Straus[d] | None |
| 6th | Johnny Moss[d] | None |
| 7th | Roger Van Ausdall | None |
| 8th | Jimmy Casella[e] | None |
Aftermath
After winning the tournament, Amarillo Slim was invited to
Notes
- ^ The official prize amount.
- dealwas made.
- ^ Brunson legitimately cashed out for an undetermined amount of money, reportedly due to an upset stomach.
- ^ a b c Addington is listed as 4th in The Hendon Mob database, although he is not mentioned by any other sources. Des Wilson lists Straus as 4th and Moss as 5th. Addington is confirmed to have played in the event by other sources, though.
- ^ The Hendon Mob database mentions only the 1st 7 players as attending the event. Although it acknowledges the presence of an 8th entrant, he/she is not named.
References
- ^ US Inflation Calculator (based on United States Consumer Price Index)
- CardPlayer Magazine. Retrieved July 16, 2011.
- ^ "Bill Boyd". The Hendon Mob. Retrieved August 16, 2011.
- Titan Poker. Retrieved August 16, 2011.
- ^ CardPlayer Magazine. Retrieved July 16, 2011.
- CardPlayer Magazine. Retrieved July 16, 2011.
- ^ PokerNews.com. Retrieved July 16, 2011.
- ^ PokerPlayer Magazine. Archived from the originalon April 21, 2013. Retrieved July 16, 2011.
- ^ a b "3rd World Series of Poker (WSOP) 1972 – $10,000 No Limit Hold'em World Championship (Results)". The Hendon Mob. Retrieved July 16, 2011.
- ^ Alvarez, p. 30