2011 - This Year in WSOP History

February 1

Jack Ury d. 2011 [age 97] (b. 3/22/1913)
Oldest person to play WSOP Main Event at age 97 in 2010 (record broken by 100-year-old Gene Calden in 2023).
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.

$0 National Championship - No-Limit Hold 'Em (Event #1, 3 days [5/27 start])

Winner: Sam Barnhart ($300,000 & 1st bracelet)

Entries: 100 (10 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

June 2

$500 Casino Employees Event - No-Limit Hold 'Em (Event #1, 3 days [5/31 start])

Winner: Sean Drake ($82,292 & 1st bracelet)

Entries: 850 (81 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

June 3

Jake Cody Completes Triple Crown of Poker
Defeats field of 128 in $25,000 No-Limit Hold 'Em 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 Heads Up Championship - No-Limit Hold 'Em (Event #2, 4 days [5/31 start])

Winner: Jake Cody ($851,192 & 1st bracelet)

Entries: 128 (16 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

$1,500 Limit Omaha Hi/Lo (Event #3, 3 days [6/1 start])

Winner: Francesco Barbaro ($262,283 & 1st bracelet)

Entries: 925 (90 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

June 4

$5,000 No-Limit Hold 'Em (Event #4, 3 days [6/2 start])

Winner: Allen Bari ($874,116 & 1st bracelet)

Entries: 865 (81 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

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

$1,500 Seven-Card Stud (Event #5, 3 days [6/2 start])

Winner: Eugene Katchalov ($122,909 & 1st bracelet)

Entries: 357 (40 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

June 5

$1,500 Limit Hold 'Em (Event #6, 3 days [6/3 start])

Winner: Harrison Wilder ($205,065 & 1st bracelet)

Entries: 675 (63 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

$10,000 Pot-Limit Hold 'Em Championship (Event #7, 3 days [6/3 start])

Winner: Amir Lehavot ($573,456 & 1st bracelet)

Entries: 249 (27 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

June 6

$1,500 No-Limit Deuce-to-Seven Lowball (Event #9, 3 days [6/4 start])

Winner: Matt Perrins ($102,105 & 1st bracelet)

Entries: 275 (28 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

June 8

$1,000 No-Limit Hold 'Em (Event #8, 5 days [6/4 start])

Winner: Sean Getzwiller ($611,185 & 1st bracelet)

Entries: 4,178 (423 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

$1,500 No-Limit Hold 'Em 6-Max (Event #10, 3 days [6/6 start])

Winner: Geffrey Klein ($544,388 & 1st bracelet)

Entries: 1,920 (180 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

$10,000 Omaha Hi/Lo Championship (Event #11, 3 days [6/6 start])

Winner: Vyacheslav Zhukov ($465,216 & 1st bracelet)

Entries: 202 (27 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

June 9

$1,500 Triple Chance No-Limit Hold 'Em (Event #12, 3 days [6/7 start])

Winner: David Diaz ($352,808 & 1st bracelet)

Entries: 1,340 (144 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

June 10

$1,500 No-Limit Hold 'Em Shootout (Event #13, 3 days [6/8 start])

Winner: Andrew Badecker ($369,371 & 1st bracelet)

Entries: 1,440 (160 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

$3,000 Limit Hold 'Em (Event #14, 3 days [6/8 start])

Winner: Tyler Bonkowski ($220,817 & 1st bracelet)

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.

$1,500 Pot-Limit Hold 'Em (Event #15, 3 days [6/9 start])

Winner: Brian Rast ($227,232 & 1st bracelet)

Entries: 765 (72 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

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.

$10,000 No-Limit Deuce-to-Seven Draw World Championship (Event #16, 3 days [6/9 start])

Winner: John Juanda ($367,170 & 5th bracelet)

Entries: 126 (14 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

June 12

$1,500 H.O.R.S.E. (Event #17, 3 days [6/10 start])

Winner: Aaron Steury ($289,283 & 1st bracelet)

Entries: 963 (96 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

June 13

$1,500 No-Limit Hold 'Em (Event #18, 3 days [6/11 start])

Winner: Foster Hays ($735,400 & 1st bracelet)

Entries: 3,157 (324 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

$2,500 Limit Hold 'Em 6-Max (Event #19, 3 days [6/11 start])

Winner: Darren Woods ($213,431 & 1st bracelet)

Entries: 354 (36 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

June 14

$1,000 No-Limit Hold 'Em (Event #20, 3 days [6/12 start])

Winner: Jason Somerville ($493,091 & 1st bracelet)

Entries: 3,175 (324 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

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.

$10,000 Seven-Card Stud Championship (Event #21, 3 days [6/12 start])

Winner: Bertrand Grospellier ($331,639 & 1st bracelet)

Entries: 126 (16 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

June 15

$1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha (Event #22, 3 days [6/13 start])

Winner: Elie Payan ($292,825 & 1st bracelet)

Entries: 1,071 (117 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

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

$2,500 Eight Game Mix (Event #23, 3 days [6/13 start])

Winner: John Monnette ($278,144 & 1st bracelet)

Entries: 489 (48 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

June 16

$5,000 No-Limit Hold 'Em Shootout (Event #24, 3 days [6/14 start])

Winner: Mark Radoja ($436,568 & 1st bracelet)

Entries: 387 (40 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

June 17

$1,500 Seven-Card Stud Hi/Lo (Event #25, 4 days [6/14 start])

Winner: Christopher Viox ($200,459 & 1st bracelet)

Entries: 606 (56 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

$2,500 No-Limit Hold 'Em 6-Max (Event #26, 3 days [6/15 start])

Winner: Oleksii Kovalchuk ($689,739 & 1st bracelet)

Entries: 1,378 (126 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

$10,000 Limit Hold 'Em Championship (Event #27, 3 days [6/15 start])

Winner: Daniel Idema ($378,642 & 1st bracelet)

Entries: 152 (18 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

June 18

$1,500 No-Limit Hold 'Em (Event #28, 3 days [6/16 start])

Winner: Andy Frankenberger ($599,153 & 1st bracelet)

Entries: 2,500 (270 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

$2,500 10 Game Mix 6-Max (Event #29, 3 days [6/16 start])

Winner: Chris Lee ($254,955 & 1st bracelet)

Entries: 431 (42 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

June 19

$1,000 Seniors Championship - No-Limit Hold 'Em (Event #30, 3 days [6/17 start])

Winner: James Hess ($557,435 & 1st bracelet)

Entries: 3,752 (396 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

$3,000 Pot-Limit Omaha (Event #31, 3 days [6/17 start])

Winner: Samuel Stein ($420,802 & 1st bracelet)

Entries: 685 (63 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

June 20

$1,500 No-Limit Hold 'Em (Event #32, 3 days [6/18 start])

Winner: Kirk Caldwell ($668,276 & 1st bracelet)

Entries: 2,828 (297 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

$10,000 Seven-Card Stud Hi/Lo Championship (Event #33, 3 days [6/18 start])

Winner: Eric Rodawig ($442,183 & 1st bracelet)

Entries: 168 (16 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

June 21

$1,000 No-Limit Hold 'Em (Event #34, 3 days [6/19 start])

Winner: Mark Schmid ($488,283 & 1st bracelet)

Entries: 3,144 (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 6-Max (Event #35, 3 days [6/20 start])

Winner: Jason Mercier ($619,575 & 2nd bracelet)

Entries: 507 (48 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

June 23

$10,000 H.O.R.S.E. Championship (Event #37, 3 days [6/21 start])

Winner: Fabrice Soulier ($609,130 & 1st bracelet)

Entries: 240 (24 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

June 24

$2,500 No-Limit Hold 'Em (Event #36, 4 days [6/21 start])

Winner: Mikhail Lakhitov ($749,610 & 1st bracelet)

Entries: 1,734 (171 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

$2,500 Pot-Limit Hold 'Em/Omaha (Event #39, 3 days [6/22 start])

Winner: Mitch Schock ($310,225 & 1st bracelet)

Entries: 606 (63 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

June 25

$1,500 No-Limit Hold 'Em (Event #38, 4 days [6/22 start])

Winner: Arkadiy Tsinis ($540,136 & 1st bracelet)

Entries: 2,192 (216 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

$5,000 No-Limit Hold 'Em 6-Max (Event #40, 3 days [6/23 start])

Winner: Matthew Jarvis ($808,538 & 1st bracelet)

Entries: 732 (78 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

June 26

$1,500 Limit Hold 'Em Shootout (Event #41, 3 days [6/24 start])

Winner: Justin Pechie ($167,060 & 1st bracelet)

Entries: 538 (60 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

$10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Championship (Event #42, 3 days [6/24 start])

Winner: Ben Lamb ($814,436 & 1st bracelet)

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, 4 days [6/25 start])

Winner: Andre Akkari ($675,117 & 1st bracelet)

Entries: 2,857 (297 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

$2,500 Seven-Card Razz (Event #44, 4 days [6/25 start])

Winner: Ralph Porter ($210,615 & 2nd bracelet)

Entries: 363 (40 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

$1,000 No-Limit Hold 'Em (Event #45, 3 days [6/26 start])

Winner: Kenneth Griffin ($455,356 & 1st bracelet)

Entries: 2,890 (297 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

June 29

$2,500 Omaha/Seven-Card Stud Hi/Lo (Event #47, 3 days [6/27 start])

Winner: Owais Ahmed ($255,959 & 1st bracelet)

Entries: 450 (48 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

June 30

$10,000 No-Limit Hold 'Em 6-Max Championship (Event #46, 4 days [6/27 start])

Winner: Joe Ebanks ($1,158,481 & 1st bracelet)

Entries: 474 (48 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

$2,500 Limit Deuce-to-Seven Triple Draw (Event #49, 3 days [6/28 start])

Winner: Lenny Martin ($189,818 & 1st bracelet)

Entries: 309 (30 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

July 1

Jerry Yang's "All In" Released
The amateur's autobiography includes 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, 4 days [6/28 start])

Winner: Athanasios Polychronopoulos ($650,223 & 1st bracelet)

Entries: 2,713 (270 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

$2,500 Mixed Hold 'Em (Event #52, 2 days [6/30 start])

Winner: Matt Matros ($303,501 & 2nd bracelet)

Entries: 580 (54 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

July 2

$5,000 Triple Chance No-Limit Hold 'Em (Event #50, 4 days [6/29 start])

Winner: Antonin Teisseire ($825,604 & 1st bracelet)

Entries: 817 (81 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

$1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi/Lo (Event #51, 3 days [6/30 start])

Winner: David Singontiko ($268,235 & 1st bracelet)

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, 3 days [7/1 start])

Winner: Marsha Wolak ($192,344 & 1st bracelet)

Entries: 1,055 (117 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

July 6

$1,000 No-Limit Hold 'Em (Event #54, 5 days [7/2 start])

Winner: Maxim Lykov ($648,880 & 1st bracelet)

Entries: 4,576 (468 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

Brian Rast Wins $50,000 Poker Players Championship for Second Bracelet of Year
Defeats field of 128 for $1,720,328, just five days after winning the 765-player $1,500 Pot-Limit Hold 'Em for $227,232. In search of his 12th bracelet, Phil Hellmuth recorded his third second-place finish of the year following heads-up losses to John Juanda ($10,000 Deuce-to-Seven) and Eric Rodawig ($10,000 Seven-Card Stud Hi-Lo).

$50,000 Poker Players Championship - 8 Game (Event #55, 5 days [7/2 start])

Winner: Brian Rast ($1,720,328 & 2nd bracelet)

Entries: 128 (16 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

July 7

$1,500 No-Limit Hold 'Em (Event #56, 3 days [7/5 start])

Winner: Hasan Anter ($777,928 & 1st bracelet)

Entries: 3,389 (342 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

$5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi/Lo (Event #57, 3 days [7/5 start])

Winner: Nick Binger ($397,073 & 1st bracelet)

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 finishes 94th for $64,531 while doing research for Poolhall Junkies movie that eventually gets canceled.

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 2

Margie Heintz, Kristy Gazes, and Phyllis Caro Join Women in Poker Hall of Fame
Heintz, the first female WSOP dealer in 1977, Gazes, the 2007 WPT Ladies Invitational winner, and Caro, the Director of Poker Operations at the Hollywood Park Casino, are honored at the Golden Nugget.

September 12

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

September 29

Mark Smith Wins Record Fifth WSOP Circuit Ring
Defeats field of 283 in $345 No-Limit Hold 'Em opener at the Horseshoe Southern Indiana to break a tie with Men Nguyen and Chris Reslock.

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.

WSOPE €2,500 6-Max No-Limit Hold 'Em (Event #1, 3 days [10/7 start])

Winner: Guillaume Humbert ($288,545 & 1st bracelet)

Entries: 360 (36 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

October 12

WSOPE €1,000 No-Limit Hold 'Em (Event #2, 5 days [10/8 start])

Winner: Andrew Hinrichsen ($197,748 & 1st bracelet)

Entries: 771 (81 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

WSOPE €5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha (Event #3, 3 days [10/10 start])

Winner: Steve Billirakis ($318,122 & 2nd bracelet)

Entries: 180 (18 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

October 13

WSOPE €3,000 No-Limit Hold 'Em Shootout (Event #4, 3 days [10/11 start])

Winner: Tristan Wade ($243,191 & 1st bracelet)

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.

WSOPE €10,000 Mixed No-Limit Hold 'Em (Event #5, 4 days [10/12 start])

Winner: Michael Mizrachi ($448,861 & 2nd bracelet)

Entries: 125 (16 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

WSOPE €1,500 6-Max Pot-Limit Omaha (Event #6, 3 days [10/13 start])

Winner: Philippe Boucher ($166,427 & 1st bracelet)

Entries: 339 (36 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon

October 19

Elio Fox Wins WSOP Europe Main Event
Defeats field of 593, including Chris Moorman heads up, for $1,870,208, the 100th million dollar prize awarded in WSOP history.

WSOPE €10,000 Main Event - NLHE (Event #7, 6 days [10/14 start])

Winner: Elio Fox ($1,870,208 & 1st bracelet)

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.

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.
Obituary | Wikipedia | WSOP.com | Hendon

November 8

Barry Greenstein and Linda Johnson Join Poker Hall of Fame
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

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

$10,000 Main Event - No-Limit Hold 'Em (Event #58, 10 days [7/7 start; ended past midnight])

Winner: Pius Heinz ($8,715,638 & 1st bracelet)

Entries: 6,865 (693 paid)

WSOP.com | Hendon