1979 World Series of Poker

The 1979 World Series of Poker (WSOP) was held at Binion's Horseshoe in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.

Preliminary events

Main Event

There were 54 entrants to the main event. Each paid $10,000 to enter the tournament. Fowler was the first amateur to win the WSOP. [http://gaming.unlv.edu/WSOP/annual/1979.html]

Final table

Fall of World Champions

* Day 1: Doyle Brunson, Brian "Sailor" Roberts, Thomas "Amarillo Slim" Preston, Jack Straus (first player eliminated)
* Day 2: Walter "Puggy" Pearson
* Day 3: Bobby Baldwin ^{[http://gaming.unlv.edu/WSOP/annual/1979.html (1)]}

Trivia

* This was the first year a player revealed a royal flush in the main event, when Lakewood Louie made the hand with his K♦ 10♦.
* After being eliminated, Amarillo Slim tipped George Huber to win.
* Hal Fowler fought back from $1,700 chips at the end of Day 1 to win the event.
* Hal Fowler defeated Bobby Hoff to win. The previous year Hoff eliminated Fowler from the main event.