Harry Coyle d. 1996 [age 74] (b. 1/7/1922) Announcer for NBC's 1976 coverage of the World Series of Poker. Sportscasting Hall of Fame 2007. Obituary
February 28
Bill Smith d. 1996 [age 61] (b. 3/14/1934) 1985 WSOP Main Event winner ($700,000). Two other WSOP Main Event final tables: 1981 5th ($37,500) & 1986 5th ($51,300). Obituary | Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon
April 21
Jimmy the Greek Snyder d. 1996 [age 77] (b. 9/9/1918) Helped organize and publicize the early years of the World Series of Poker and posted odds on each player's chances of winning the Main Event. Announcer for the "CBS Sports Spectacular" coverage of the Main Event in 1973, 1977, and 1979. Obituary | Wikipedia
WSOP Passes $100,000,000 in Total Prizes Awarded $144,000 first prize in $2,500 Seven-Card Stud tops the milestone as Marty Sigel wins his first bracelet.
$2,500 Seven-Card Stud (Event #17, 1 day [5/6 start; ended past midnight])
Three Women Reach Final Table of $2,500 Pot-Limit Hold 'Em For the first time in WSOP history, three women survive to the last nine, in fact the last six, of an open bracelet event: Barbara Enright, Lucy Rokach, and Jennifer Harman.
Barbara Enright Wins $2,500 Pot-Limit Hold 'Em to Become First Woman With Three Bracelets Defeats field of 180 for women's record $180,000 for her first open bracelet to go with her two Ladies Championships (1986 and 1994). She becomes only the second woman to win an open event after Vera Richmond in 1982. Lucy Rokach finishes 3rd for $45,000 and Jennifer Harman 6th for $15,750.