2003 - This Year in WSOP History

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2003

January 1

James McManus's Positively Fifth Street Released
Sent by Harper's Magazine to write about the 2000 WSOP, McManus decides that playing would be good research, so he enters a satellite for the Main Event.

April 3

Dana Smith, Tom McEvoy, & Ralph Wheeler's Championship Table Released
Basic facts about each WSOP Main Event from 1970 to 2002, including the players at each final table.A 2009 updated version added 2003 to 2008. [Approximate date]

April 15

Non-Smoking World Series of Poker Begins
Thanks in large part to Tom McEvoy's efforts, smoking is banned at the poker table as the $500 Casino Employees Limit Hold 'Em opens this year's festival on the earliest date in WSOP history.

April 16

WSOP Awards 500th Bracelet
David Lukaszewski defeats field of 208 in $500 Casino Employees Limit Hold 'Em for $35,800 and the historic bracelet.

$500 Casino Employees Limit Hold 'Em (Event #1, began 4/15)

Winner: David Lukaszewski ($35,800)

Entries: 208 (27 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

April 17

$2,000 Limit Hold 'Em (Event #2, began 4/16)

Winner: Mohamed Ibrahim ($290,420)

Entries: 422 (27 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

April 18

$1,500 Seven-Card Stud (Event #3, began 4/17)

Winner: Toto Leonidas ($98,760)

Entries: 177 (16 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

April 19

Chris Ferguson Wins $2,000 Omaha Hi/Lo for Fourth Bracelet
Defeats field of 175 for $123,680.

$2,000 Omaha Hi/Lo Split (Event #4, began 4/18)

Winner: Chris Ferguson ($123,680)

Entries: 175 (18 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

$2,000 No-Limit Hold 'Em (Event #5, began 4/19)

Winner: Jim Meehan ($280,100)

Entries: 407 (27 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

April 21

$1,500 Pot-Limit Hold 'Em (Event #6, began 4/20)

Winner: Prahlad Friedman ($109,400)

Entries: 212 (27 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

April 22

$1,500 Seven-Card Stud Hi/Lo Split (Event #7, began 4/21)

Winner: Minh "San Diego" Nguyen ($106,020)

Entries: 190 (16 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

April 23

Erik Seidel Wins $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha for Sixth Bracelet
Defeats field of 117 (149 rebuys), including Men Nguyen heads up, for $146,100.

$1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha (Event #8, began 4/22)

Winner: Erik Seidel ($146,100)

Entries: 117$ (149 rebuys) (18 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

April 24

Doyle Brunson Wins $2,000 H.O.R.S.E. for Ninth Bracelet
Defeats field of 113 for $84,080 and ties Johnny Moss for the most WSOP bracelets.

$2,000 H.O.R.S.E. (Event #9, began 4/23)

Winner: Doyle Brunson ($84,080)

Entries: 113 (16 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

April 25

Chris Ferguson Wins $2,000 Limit Hold 'Em/Seven-Card Stud for Fifth Bracelet, Second of Year
Defeats field of 89 for $66,220.

$2,000 1/2 Limit Hold 'Em - 1/2 Seven-Card Stud (Event #10, began 4/24)

Winner: Chris Ferguson ($66,220)

Entries: 89 (8 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

April 26

$2,500 No-Limit Hold 'Em (Event #11, began 4/25)

Winner: Phi Nguyen ($222,800)

Entries: 259 (27 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

April 27

Phil Hellmuth Wins $2,500 Limit Hold 'Em for Eighth Bracelet
Defeats field of 194 for $171,400.

$2,500 Limit Hold 'Em (Event #12, began 4/26)

Winner: Phil Hellmuth ($171,400)

Entries: 194 (18 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

April 28

$2,500 Seven-Card Stud (Event #13, began 4/27)

Winner: Michael Saltzburg ($95,580)

Entries: 103 (16 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

April 29

O'Neil Longson Gets Revenge on Allen Cunningham
Less than a year after Cunningham defeated Longson in the $5,000 No-Limit Deuce-to-Seven Draw, Longson turns the table, defeating a field of 28 (40 rebuys) for $147,680 and his second bracelet in the 500th event in WSOP history.

$5,000 No-Limit Deuce-to-Seven Draw (Event #14, began 4/28)

Winner: O'Neil Longson ($147,680)

Entries: 28$ (40 rebuys) (5 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

April 30

Johnny Chan Wins $5,000 No-Limit Hold 'Em for Eighth Bracelet
Defeats field of 127 for $224,400 as WSOP passes $200,000,000 in total prizes awarded.

$5,000 No-Limit Hold 'Em (Event #15, began 4/29)

Winner: Johnny Chan ($224,400)

Entries: 127 (18 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

May 1

High Roller: The Stu Ungar Story Opens in Theaters
Jonathan Press plays the younger Stu, and Michael Imperioli plays the older Stu in the biography.

$1,500 Limit Omaha (Event #16, began 4/30)

Winner: Eddy Scharf ($63,600)

Entries: 120 (18 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

May 2

Don Holt d. 2003 [age 76] (b. 4/15/1927)
1991 WSOP Main Event 2nd place ($402,500). Won 1989 $5,000 Seven-Card Stud ($154,000).
Obituary | Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon

Kathy Liebert Reaches Second Final Table of Year
Finishes 9th in $2,000 No-Limit Hold 'Em for $12,160 and 2nd in $1,500 Limit Hold 'Em for $91,700 to tie Annie Duke and Jen Harman's women's record. John Arrage wins the latter event for $178,600 and his first bracelet after finishing third in Casino Employees event, duplicating Mike Majerus's feat from 2002.

$1,500 Limit Hold 'Em (Event #17, began 5/1)

Winner: John Arrage ($178,600)

Entries: 346 (27 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

May 3

Layne Flack Wins $2,500 Omaha Hi/Lo for Fourth Bracelet
Defeats field of 135, including Men Nguyen heads up, for $119,260.

$2,500 Omaha Hi/Lo Split (Event #18, began 5/2)

Winner: Layne Flack ($119,260)

Entries: 135 (18 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

May 4

Mickey Appleman Wins $2,000 Pot-Limit Hold 'Em for Fourth Bracelet
Defeats field of 214 for $147,280.

$2,000 Pot-Limit Hold 'Em (Event #19, began 5/3)

Winner: Mickey Appleman ($147,280)

Entries: 214 (27 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

May 5

$1,000 Seniors No-Limit Hold 'Em (Event #20, began 5/4)

Winner: Ron Rose ($130,060)

Entries: 378 (27 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

May 6

John Juanda Wins $2,500 Seven-Card Stud for Second Bracelet
Defeats field of 140 for $130,200.

$2,500 Seven-Card Stud Hi/Lo Split (Event #21, began 5/5)

Winner: John Juanda ($130,200)

Entries: 140 (16 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

May 7

Amir Vahidi Wins $1,500 No-Limit Hold 'Em for Iran's First Bracelet
Defeats field of 531 for $270,000.

$1,500 No-Limit Hold 'Em (Event #22, began 5/6)

Winner: Amir Vahedi ($270,000)

Entries: 531 (36 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

May 8

Daniel Negreanu Wins $2,000 S.H.O.E. for Second Bracelet
Defeats field of 135 for $100,440.

$2,000 S.H.O.E. (Event #23, began 5/7)

Winner: Daniel Negreanu ($100,440)

Entries: 135 (16 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

May 9

Johnny Chan Wins $5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha for Ninth Bracelet, Second of Year
Defeats field of 85 for $158,100 to tie Moss and Brunson for the career bracelet lead.

$5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha (Event #24, began 5/8)

Winner: Johnny Chan ($158,100)

Entries: 85 (9 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

May 10

Layne Flack Wins $1,500 Limit Hold 'Em Shootout for Fifth Bracelet
Defeats field of 220 for $120,000. Annie Duke reaches her second final table of the year (6th in $2,500 Limit Hold 'Em for $10,960) for a record third time and finishes 2nd for $60,000.

$1,500 Limit Hold 'Em Shootout (Event #25, began 5/9)

Winner: Layne Flack ($120,000)

Entries: 220 (22 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

May 11

Huck Seed Wins $5,000 Razz for Fourth Bracelet
Defeats field of 30, including Phil Ivey heads up, for $71,500.

Jen Harman Reaches Second Final Table of Year
Finishes 9th in $3,000 Limit Hold 'Em for $8,580 four weeks after finishing 5th in $1,500 Seven-Card Stud for $9,880 to become the second woman after Annie Duke to reach multiple final tables in multiple years.

$3,000 Limit Hold 'Em (Event #26, began 5/10)

Winner: Tom Jacobs ($163,000)

Entries: 154 (18 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

$5,000 Seven-Card Razz (Event #28, began 5/11)

Winner: Huck Seed ($71,500)

Entries: 30 (4 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

May 12

$1,000 Ladies 1/2 Hold 'Em - 1/2 Stud (Event #27, began 5/11)

Winner: Barb Rugolo ($40,700)

Entries: 112 (18 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

May 13

Byron Wolford d. 2003 [age 72] (b. 9/14/1930)
1984 WSOP Main Event 2nd place ($264,000). Won 1991 $5,000 Limit Hold 'Em ($210,000). Seniors Poker Hall of Fame 1995.
Obituary | Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon

$1,500 Omaha Hi/Lo Split (Event #29, began 5/12)

Winner: Frankie O'Dell ($133,760)

Entries: 259 (27 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

May 14

$3,000 Pot-Limit Hold 'Em (Event #30, began 5/13)

Winner: Charles Keith Lehr ($225,040)

Entries: 218 (27 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

May 15

Men Nguyen Wins $5,000 Seven-Card Stud for Fifth Bracelet
Defeats field of 96 for $178,560.

$5,000 Seven-Card Stud (Event #31, began 5/14)

Winner: Men Nguyen ($178,560)

Entries: 96 (8 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

May 16

Phil Hellmuth Wins $3,000 No-Limit Hold 'Em for Ninth Bracelet, Second of Year
Defeats field of 398, including Daniel Negreanu heads up in only six hands, for $410,860 to tie Johnny Moss, Doyle Brunson, and Johnny Chan for the bracelet lead.

$3,000 No-Limit Hold 'Em (Event #32, began 5/15)

Winner: Phil Hellmuth ($410,860)

Entries: 398 (27 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

May 17

Chris Ferguson Cashes for Record Eighth Time in Year
Finishes 6th in $2,500 Pot-Limit Omaha for $18,780, breaking An Tran's 11-year-old record.

John Juanda Wins $2,500 Pot-Limit Omaha for Third Bracelet, Second of Year
Defeats field of 120 (104 rebuys) for $203,840.

$2,500 Pot-Limit Omaha (Event #33, began 5/16)

Winner: John Juanda ($203,840)

Entries: 120$ (104 rebuys) (18 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

May 18

Men Nguyen Wins $1,500 Limit Ace-to-Five Triple Draw for Sixth Bracelet, Second of Year
Defeats field of 78 for $43,520.

$5,000 Limit Hold 'Em (Event #34, began 5/17)

Winner: Carlos Mortensen ($251,680)

Entries: 143 (18 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

$1,500 Limit Ace-to-Five Triple Draw Lowball (Event #35, began 5/18)

Winner: Men Nguyen ($43,520)

Entries: 78 (9 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

May 21

Annie Duke Last Woman Standing in WSOP Main Event
Finishes 47th for $20,000 and becomes the first woman to cash in the Main Event three times (26th in 1994 for $16,800 and 10th in 2000 for $52,160).

May 23

Phil Ivey Main Event Final Table Bubble Boy
Takes bad beat from Chris Moneymaker to exit in 10th for $82,700.

May 24

Chris Moneymaker Wins 2003 WSOP Main Event
Online satellite winner defeats field of 839, including Sammy Farha heads up, for record $2,500,000. Moneymaker had won a PokerStars $86 one-table satellite into a $650 satellite for his Main Event seat.

Bobby Baldwin Inducted Into Poker Hall of Fame
Baldwin is a 4-time bracelet winner, including the 1978 WSOP Main Event.

Dan Harrington Last Champ Standing in Main Event
Reaches final table seventh in chips before exiting in 3rd place for $650,000.

$10,000 Main Event - No-Limit Hold 'Em (Event #36, began 5/19)

Winner: Chris Moneymaker ($2,500,000)

Entries: 839 (63 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

September 11

Harrah's Buys Binion's Horseshoe and World Series of Poker Brand
Harrah's Entertainment later renamed Caesars Entertainment Corporation

October 24

Jim Albrecht d. 2003 [age 53] (b. 12/8/1949)
WSOP Tournament Director from 1988 to 1998. Saved 1992 WSOP when the IRS wanted taxes to be withheld from all winnings, compromising by issuing W-2G forms.
Obituary

December 5

Jack Keller d. 2003 [age 60] (b. 12/29/1942)
1984 WSOP Main Event winner ($660,000). Two other Main Event final tables: 1987 9th place ($18,750) & 1992 8th place ($20,200). 1995 Bubble Boy. Two other bracelets: 1984 $5,000 Seven-Card Stud ($137,500), 1993 $1,500 Limit Omaha ($61,800). Only player other than Stu Ungar to win both the WSOP and Super Bowl of Poker Main Events. Poker Hall of Fame 1993.
Obituary | Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon

{ Data is current through January 1, 2023. }