1981 - This Year in WSOP History

January 5

Michael Mizrachi [], b. Miami, FL
2010 WSOP Main Event 5th place ($2,332,992). Five bracelets: 2010, 2012, & 2018 $50,000 Poker Players Championship ($1,559,046, $1,451,527, & $1,239,126), 2011 WSOP Europe €10,000 Split-Format No-Limit Hold 'Em (€336,008), & 2019 $1,500 Seven-Card Stud Hi/Lo ($142,801). Won the most bracelets in the 2010s (5). 1 Circuit ring.
Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon

February 8

Bertrand Grospellier [], b. Melun, France
Won 2011 $10,000 Seven-Card Stud ($331,639) to complete Poker Triple Crown (WSOP, World Poker Tour, & European Poker Tour titles). Also won 2019 WSOPE €550 Colossus (€191,172). 2017 $111,111 High Roller for One Drop 2nd place ($2,278,657).
Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon

February 17

Paul Wasicka [], b. Dallas, TX
2006 WSOP Main Event 2nd place ($6,102,499, the largest second prize ever for the Main Event).
Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon

February 21

Eugene Katchalov [], b. Kyiv, Ukraine
Won 2011 $1,500 Seven-Card Stud ($122,909) to become the first Ukranian with a bracelet.
Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon

April 25

$1,000 Ace-to-Five Draw (Event #1, began 4/24)

Winner: Glen Rodgers ($44,000)

Entries: 88 (5 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

April 26

California Style Limit Draw Debuts
For the first time in WSOP history, a game with a joker is played.

April 27

Jackie Mills Becomes First Woman to Cash Twice in Open Events
Wins $7,200 for second place behind Ed Barmach in $1,000 Limit Draw High with Joker.

$1,000 Limit Draw High with Joker (Event #2, began 4/26)

Winner: Ed Barmach ($18,000)

Entries: 36 (5 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

April 29

$1,000 Seven-Card Razz (Event #3, began 4/28)

Winner: Bruce Hershenson ($34,500)

Entries: 69 (5 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

May 1

Johnny Moss Wins $1,000 Seven-Card Stud Hi/Lo for Record Eighth Bracelet
Defeats field of 67 for $33,500 to become the oldest bracelet winner less than two weeks before his 74th birthday. Eight-or-better qualifier rule for low hand introduced.

$1,000 Seven-Card Stud Split (Event #4, began 4/30)

Winner: Johnny Moss ($33,500)

Entries: 67 (5 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

May 3

$1,000 Seven-Card Stud (Event #5, began 5/2)

Winner: Sid Gammerman ($52,000)

Entries: 104 (5 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

May 5

$5,000 Seven-Card Stud (Event #6, began 5/4)

Winner: A.J. Myers ($67,500)

Entries: 27 (5 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

May 7

$600 Mixed Doubles (Event #7, began 5/6)

Winner: Juanda Matthews & Frank Cardone ($15,600)

Entries: 52 (5 paid)

First bracelet for each of them.

WSOP.com | Hendon

May 9

$400 Women's Seven-Card Stud (Event #8, began 5/8)

Winner: Ruth Godfrey ($17,600)

Entries: 88 (5 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

$2,500 Ace-to-Five Draw (Event #9, began 5/8)

Winner: Mickey Perry ($46,250)

Entries: 37 (5 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

May 10

Brandon Cantu [], b. Vancouver, WA
Two bracelets: 2006 $1,500 No-Limit Hold 'Em ($757,839) & 2009 $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi/Lo ($228,867). 1 Circuit ring.
Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon

May 11

Stu Ungar Wins $10,000 Deuce-to-Seven Draw for Second Bracelet
Defeats field of 19, including Bobby Baldwin heads up, for $95,000 and the WSOP's 100th bracelet.

$10,000 Deuce-to-Seven Draw (Event #10, began 5/10)

Winner: Stu Ungar ($95,000)

Entries: 19 (5 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

May 13

Eddie Schwettmann Wins $1,000 Limit Hold 'Em
Murray, Kentucky restaurant owner defeats field of 180 for $90,000 in an event missing from WSOP.com.

$1,000 Limit Hold 'Em (Event #11, began 5/11)

Winner: Eddie Schwettmann ($90,000)

Entries: 180 (5 paid)

May 15

$1,500 No-Limit Hold 'Em (Event #12, began 5/13)

Winner: Fredric David ($96,000)

Entries: 128 (5 paid)

This was a "non-professional" tournament that explicitly prohibited poker pros.

WSOP.com | Hendon

May 17

Bill Boyd Inducted Into Poker Hall of Fame
Boyd is a four-time bracelet winner who dominated every WSOP Five-Card Stud event in the early 70's before it was permanently cancelled.

$1,000 No-Limit Hold 'Em (Event #13, began 5/15)

Winner: Dody Roach ($81,000)

Entries: 162 (9 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

May 19

Vera Richmond Leads WSOP Main Event at End of Day 1
Her 50,250 chips make her the first woman to lead at the end of any day. Amarillo Slim Preston famously promises, "I'll cut my throat" if she holds on to win the Main Event, but she busts late on Day Two without cashing.

May 21

Chip Reese Wins "Most Valuable Player" Award
Makes four final tables, each in a different game (No-Limit Hold 'Em, Limit Ace-to-Five Draw, No-Limit Deuce-to-Seven Draw, and Seven-Card Stud).

Stu Ungar Wins 1981 WSOP Main Event to Defend Title
Defeats field of 75, including Perry Green heads up, for $375,000, third bracelet, and second of year. Former champ Bobby Baldwin reaches 9-player final table with chip lead but falls in seventh for $15,000.

$10,000 Main Event - No-Limit Hold 'Em (Event #14, began 5/18)

Winner: Stu Ungar ($375,000)

Entries: 75 (9 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

June 27

Ivan Demidov [], b. Moscow, Russia
2008 WSOP Main Event 2nd place ($5,809,595).
Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon

July 19

Scott Clements [], b. Mt. Vernon, Washington
Three bracelets: 2006 $3,000 Omaha Hi/Lo ($301,175), 2007 $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha ($194,206), & 2019 $1,500 Dealer's Choice ($144,957).
Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon

August 13

Anthony Zinno [], b. Cranston, RI
Four bracelets: 2015 $25,000 High Roller Pot-Limit Omaha ($1,122,196), 2019 $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi/Lo ($279,920), 2021 $10,000 Seven-Card Stud ($182,872), & 2021 $1,500 H.O.R.S.E. ($160,636).
Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon

August 15

Brock Parker [], b. Maryland as John Brock Parker
Three bracelets: 2009 $2,500 Limit Hold 'Em Short-Handed ($223,688), 2009 $2,500 No-Limit Hold 'Em Short-Handed ($552,745), & 2014 $10,000 Omaha Hi/Lo ($443,407). First two bracelets came just four days apart.
Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon

August 28

Gavin Griffin [], b. Darien, IL
Won 2004 $3,000 Pot-Limit Hold 'Em ($270,420) to set record as youngest bracelet winner at 22 years, 8 months, and 17 days old. First player to win the Triple Crown of Poker with a European Poker Tour title in 2007 and a World Poker Tour title in 2008.
Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon

October 16

Scott Montgomery [], b. Perth, Ontario, Canada
2008 WSOP Main Event 5th place ($3,096,768). Won 2010 $1,000 No-Limit Hold 'Em ($481,760).
Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon

November 8

Brian Rast [], b. Denver, CO
Five bracelets: 2011 $1,500 Pot-Limit Hold 'Em ($227,232), 2011 $50,000 Poker Players Championship ($1,720,328), 2016 $50,000 Poker Players Championship ($1,296,097), 2018 $10,000 No-Limit Deuce-to-Seven Draw ($259,670), & 2021 $3,000 No-Limit Hold 'Em 6-Max ($474,102).
Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon