2011 - This Year in WSOP History

February 1

Jack Ury d. 2011 [age 97] (b. 3/22/1913)
Oldest person to ever play in the WSOP Main Event at age 97 in 2010.
Obituary

April 15

Black Friday: U.S. Department of Justice shuts down Full Tilt Poker, PokerStars, and Absolute Poker/Ultimate Bet
Online poker had been a huge boon for the World Series of Poker, providing satellite access to most tournaments, including the Main Event.

May 29

Sam Barnhart Wins First WSOP National Championship
Defeats field of 100 for $300,000 in freeroll.

$000 No-Limit Hold 'Em National Championship (Event #1, began 5/27)

Winner: Sam Barnhart ($300,000)

Entries: 100 (10 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

June 2

$500 No-Limit Hold 'Em - Casino Employees Event (Event #1, began 5/31)

Winner: Sean Drake ($82,292)

Entries: 850 (81 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

June 3

Jake Cody Completes Triple Crown of Poker
Defeats field of 128 in $25,000 NLHE Heads Up Championship for $851,192 to become the youngest ever at age 22 after winning European Poker Tour and World Poker Tour titles in 2010.

$25,000 No-Limit Hold 'Em - Heads Up Championship (Event #2, began 5/31)

Winner: Jake Cody ($851,192)

Entries: 128 (16 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

$1,500 Limit Omaha Hi/Lo (Event #3, began 6/1)

Winner: Francesco Barbaro ($262,283)

Entries: 925 (90 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

June 4

Eugene Katchalov Wins $1,500 Seven-Card Stud for Ukraine's First Bracelet
Defeats field of 357 for $122,909.

$5,000 No-Limit Hold 'Em (Event #4, began 6/2)

Winner: Allen Bari ($874,116)

Entries: 865 (81 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

$1,500 Seven-Card Stud (Event #5, began 6/2)

Winner: Eugene Katchalov ($122,909)

Entries: 357 (40 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

June 5

$1,500 Limit Hold 'Em (Event #6, began 6/3)

Winner: Harrison Wilder ($205,065)

Entries: 675 (63 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

$10,000 Pot-Limit Hold 'Em Championship (Event #7, began 6/3)

Winner: Amir Lehavot ($573,456)

Entries: 249 (27 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

June 6

$1,500 No-Limit Deuce-to-Seven Lowball (Event #9, began 6/4)

Winner: Matt Perrins ($102,105)

Entries: 275 (28 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

June 8

$1,000 No-Limit Hold 'Em (Event #8, began 6/4)

Winner: Sean Getzwiller ($611,185)

Entries: 4178 (423 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

$1,500 No-Limit Hold 'Em - Six Handed (Event #10, began 6/6)

Winner: Geffrey Klein ($544,388)

Entries: 1920 (180 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

$10,000 Omaha Hi/Lo Championship (Event #11, began 6/6)

Winner: Vyacheslav Zhukov ($465,216)

Entries: 202 (27 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

June 9

$1,500 No-Limit Hold 'Em - Triple Chance (Event #12, began 6/7)

Winner: David Diaz ($352,808)

Entries: 1340 (144 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

June 10

$1,500 No-Limit Hold 'Em - Shootout (Event #13, began 6/8)

Winner: Andrew Badecker ($369,371)

Entries: 1440 (160 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

$3,000 Limit Hold 'Em (Event #14, began 6/8)

Winner: Tyler Bonkowski ($220,817)

Entries: 337 (36 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

June 11

Brian Rast Wins $1,500 Pot-Limit Hold 'Em for First Bracelet
Defeats field of 765 for $227,232.

John Juanda Wins $10,000 No-Limit Deuce-to-Seven Draw for Fifth Bracelet
Defeats field of 126 for $367,170, denying Phil Hellmuth his 12th bracelet heads up.

$1,500 Pot-Limit Hold 'Em (Event #15, began 6/9)

Winner: Brian Rast ($227,232)

Entries: 765 (72 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

$10,000 No-Limit Deuce-to-Seven Draw World Championship (Event #16, began 6/9)

Winner: John Juanda ($367,170)

Entries: 126 (14 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

June 12

$1,500 H.O.R.S.E. (Event #17, began 6/10)

Winner: Aaron Steury ($289,283)

Entries: 963 (96 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

June 13

$1,500 No-Limit Hold 'Em (Event #18, began 6/11)

Winner: Foster Hays ($735,400)

Entries: 3157 (324 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

$2,500 Limit Hold 'Em - Six Handed (Event #19, began 6/11)

Winner: Darren Woods ($213,431)

Entries: 354 (36 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

June 14

Bertrand Grospellier Completes Triple Crown of Poker
Defeats field of 126 in $10,000 Seven-Card Stud for $331,639 after winning European Poker Tour and World Poker Tour titles in 2008.

$1,000 No-Limit Hold 'Em (Event #20, began 6/12)

Winner: Jason Somerville ($493,091)

Entries: 3175 (324 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

$10,000 Seven-Card Stud Championship (Event #21, began 6/12)

Winner: Bertrand Grospellier ($331,639)

Entries: 126 (16 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

June 15

John Monnette Wins $2,500 8-Game Mix for First Bracelet
Defeats field of 489 for $278,144.

$1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha (Event #22, began 6/13)

Winner: Elie Payan ($292,825)

Entries: 1071 (117 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

$2,500 8 Game (Event #23, began 6/13)

Winner: John Monnette ($278,144)

Entries: 489 (48 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

June 16

$5,000 No-Limit Hold 'Em - Shootout (Event #24, began 6/14)

Winner: Mark Radoja ($436,568)

Entries: 387 (40 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

June 17

$1,500 Seven-Card Stud Hi/Lo (Event #25, began 6/14)

Winner: Christopher Viox ($200,459)

Entries: 606 (56 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

$2,500 No-Limit Hold 'Em - Six Handed (Event #26, began 6/15)

Winner: Oleksii Kovalchuk ($689,739)

Entries: 1378 (126 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

$10,000 Limit Hold 'Em Championship (Event #27, began 6/15)

Winner: Daniel Idema ($378,642)

Entries: 152 (18 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

June 18

$1,500 No-Limit Hold 'Em (Event #28, began 6/16)

Winner: Andy Frankenberger ($599,153)

Entries: 2500 (270 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

$2,500 10 Game/Six Handed (Event #29, began 6/16)

Winner: Chris Lee ($254,955)

Entries: 431 (42 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

June 19

$1,000 Seniors Championship - No-Limit Hold 'Em (Event #30, began 6/17)

Winner: James Hess ($557,435)

Entries: 3752 (396 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

$3,000 Pot-Limit Omaha (Event #31, began 6/17)

Winner: Samuel Stein ($420,802)

Entries: 685 (63 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

June 20

$1,500 No-Limit Hold 'Em (Event #32, began 6/18)

Winner: Kirk Caldwell ($668,276)

Entries: 2828 (297 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

$10,000 Seven-Card Stud Hi/Lo Championship (Event #33, began 6/18)

Winner: Eric Rodawig ($442,183)

Entries: 168 (16 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

June 21

$1,000 No-Limit Hold 'Em (Event #34, began 6/19)

Winner: Mark Schmid ($488,283)

Entries: 3144 (324 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

June 22

Jason Mercier Wins $5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha 6-Max for Second Bracelet
Defeats field of 507 for $619,575.

$5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha - Six Handed (Event #35, began 6/20)

Winner: Jason Mercier ($619,575)

Entries: 507 (48 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

June 23

$10,000 H.O.R.S.E. - Championship (Event #37, began 6/21)

Winner: Fabrice Soulier ($609,130)

Entries: 240 (24 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

June 24

$2,500 No-Limit Hold 'Em (Event #36, began 6/21)

Winner: Mikhail Lakhitov ($749,610)

Entries: 1734 (171 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

$2,500 Pot-Limit Hold 'Em/Omaha (Event #39, began 6/22)

Winner: Mitch Schock ($310,225)

Entries: 606 (63 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

June 25

$1,500 No-Limit Hold 'Em (Event #38, began 6/22)

Winner: Arkadiy Tsinis ($540,136)

Entries: 2192 (216 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

$5,000 No-Limit Hold 'Em - Six Handed (Event #40, began 6/23)

Winner: Matthew Jarvis ($808,538)

Entries: 732 (78 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

June 26

$1,500 Limit Hold 'Em - Shootout (Event #41, began 6/24)

Winner: Justin Pechie ($167,060)

Entries: 538 (60 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

$10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Championship (Event #42, began 6/24)

Winner: Ben Lamb ($814,436)

Entries: 361 (36 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

June 27

Total WSOP Entries Top 500,000
450 players enter $2,500 Omaha/Seven-Card Stud to reach the milestone.

June 28

$1,500 No-Limit Hold 'Em (Event #43, began 6/25)

Winner: Andre Akkari ($675,117)

Entries: 2857 (297 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

$2,500 Seven-Card Razz (Event #44, began 6/25)

Winner: Ralph Porter ($210,615)

Entries: 363 (40 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

$1,000 No-Limit Hold 'Em (Event #45, began 6/26)

Winner: Kenneth Griffin ($455,356)

Entries: 2890 (297 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

June 29

$2,500 Omaha/Seven-Card Stud Hi/Lo (Event #47, began 6/27)

Winner: Owais Ahmed ($255,959)

Entries: 450 (48 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

June 30

$10,000 No-Limit Hold 'Em - Six Handed Championship (Event #46, began 6/27)

Winner: Joe Ebanks ($1,158,481)

Entries: 474 (48 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

$2,500 Limit Deuce-to-Seven Triple Draw (Event #49, began 6/28)

Winner: Lenny Martin ($189,818)

Entries: 309 (30 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

July 1

Jerry Yang's All In Released
Fascinating stories of Yang's escape from Laos and his poker career from discovering the WSOP on ESPN to winning the 2007 Main Event.

$1,500 No-Limit Hold 'Em (Event #48, began 6/28)

Winner: Athanasios Polychronopoulos ($650,223)

Entries: 2713 (270 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

$2,500 Mixed Hold 'Em (Event #52, began 6/30)

Winner: Matt Matros ($303,501)

Entries: 580 (54 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

July 2

$5,000 No-Limit Hold 'Em - Triple Chance (Event #50, began 6/29)

Winner: Antonin Teisseire ($825,604)

Entries: 817 (81 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

$1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi/Lo (Event #51, began 6/30)

Winner: David Singontiko ($268,235)

Entries: 946 (90 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

July 3

Jonathan Epstein Finishes 9th in Ladies Championship
Marsha Wolak defeats a field of 1,055 for $192,344, but Epstein makes waves by cashing for $13,701. [WSOP wouldn't do anything to deter men from entering until 2013.]

$1,000 Ladies Championship - No-Limit Hold 'Em (Event #53, began 7/1)

Winner: Marsha Wolak ($192,344)

Entries: 1055 (117 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

July 6

Brian Rast Wins $50,000 Poker Players Championship for Second Bracelet of Year
Defeats field of 128 for $1,720,328, denying Phil Hellmuth his 12th bracelet heads up.

$1,000 No-Limit Hold 'Em (Event #54, began 7/2)

Winner: Maxim Lykov ($648,880)

Entries: 4576 (468 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

$50,000 The Poker Players Championship - 8 Game (Event #55, began 7/2)

Winner: Brian Rast ($1,720,328)

Entries: 128 (16 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

July 7

$1,500 No-Limit Hold 'Em (Event #56, began 7/5)

Winner: Hasan Anter ($777,928)

Entries: 3389 (342 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

$5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi/Lo (Event #57, began 7/5)

Winner: Nick Binger ($397,073)

Entries: 352 (36 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

July 9

Ellen "Gram" Deeb Becomes the Oldest Woman to Play in the Main Event at Age 91
Shaun Deeb's grandmother tells the crowd, "I just have one thing to say! You are all playing for second!", but does not reach Day 2.

July 15

Robert Varkonyi Last Champ Standing in Main Event
Exits in 514th place for $23,876.

Chris Bjorin and Diogo Borges Cash in Record-Tying Fourth Straight Main Event
Tie Robert Turner (1991-94), Bo Sehlstedt (2004-07), and Theodore Park (2005-08).

July 16

Mars Callahan Last Celebrity Standing in WSOP Main Event
Actor and director of "Poolhall Junkies" finishes 94th for $64,531 while doing research for a "Poker Junkies" movie.

July 18

Erika Moutinho Last Woman Standing in WSOP Main Event
Finishes 29th for $242,636, one place better than her boyfriend, Doc Sands, who wins the same amount. [She would become Erika Sands when they married on March 29, 2013.]

July 20

2011 November Nine Set
Martin Staszko leads with 40 million chips. Eoghan O'Dea, second with 34 million, joins his father Donnacha (9th in 1991 for $17,250) as the only father-son duo to both reach the Main Event final table.

September 12

WSOP Europe Team Event Returns
After skipping 2010, the Europe-vs.-U.S. Caesars Cup will be held on October 19 in Cannes, France.

October 9

Guillaume Humbert Wins WSOP Europe £2,500 No-Limit Hold 'Em 6-Max for Switzerland's First Bracelet
Defeats field of 360 for $288,545 as festival moves to Le Croisette Casino Barriere in Cannes, France.

€2,500 6-Max No-Limit Hold 'Em (Event #1, began 10/7)

Winner: Guillaume Humbert ($288,545)

Entries: 360 (36 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

October 12

€1,000 No-Limit Hold 'Em (Event #2, began 10/8)

Winner: Andrew Hinrichsen ($197,748)

Entries: 771 (81 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

€5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha (Event #3, began 10/10)

Winner: Steve Billirakis ($318,122)

Entries: 180 (18 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

October 13

€3,000 No-Limit Hold 'Em Shootout (Event #4, began 10/11)

Winner: Tristan Wade ($243,191)

Entries: 258 (30 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

October 15

Michael Mizrachi Wins WSOP Europe £10,000 Mixed No-Limit Hold 'Em for Second Bracelet
Defeats field of 125 for $448,861.

€10,000 Mixed No-Limit Hold 'Em (Event #5, began 10/12)

Winner: Michael Mizrachi ($448,861)

Entries: 125 (16 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

€1,500 6-Max Pot-Limit Omaha (Event #6, began 10/13)

Winner: Philippe Boucher ($166,427)

Entries: 339 (36 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

October 19

€10,000 Main Event - No-Limit Hold 'Em (Event #7, began 10/14)

Winner: Elio Fox ($1,870,208)

Entries: 593 (64 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

October 20

Ben Lamb Is WSOP Player of the Year
Cashes five times for one bracelet and over $5 million to send Phil Hellmuth to his second runner-up finish.

Elio Fox Wins WSOP Europe Main Event
Defeats field of 593, including Chris Moorman heads up, for $1,870,208.

October 22

Roger Moore d. 2011 [age 73] (b. 4/10/1938)
1986 WSOP Main Event 6th place ($39,900). Won 1994 $5,000 Seven-Card Stud for $144,000. Poker Hall of Fame 1997.
Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon

November 8

Pius Heinz Wins 2011 WSOP Main Event
Defeats field of 6,865, including Martin Staszko heads up, for $8,715,638.

Barry Greenstein and Linda Johnson to Be Inducted into Poker Hall of Fame
Barry Greenstein, the Robin Hood of Poker, is better known for donating his tournament profits to charity, while Johnson, the First Lady of Poker, is an open bracelet winner who published Card Player magazine for eight years and helped found the World Poker Tour and the Tournament Director’s Association. The pair are the Hall's 41st and 42nd inductees as a 40 year minimum age requirement is introduced.

November 9

$10,000 Main Event - No-Limit Hold 'Em (Event #58, began 7/7)

Winner: Pius Heinz ($8,715,368)

Entries: 6865 (693 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon