World Series of Poker bracelet

The World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet is considered the most coveted non-monetary prize a poker player can win. Since 1976, a bracelet has been awarded to the winner of every event at the annual WSOP. Even if the victory occurred before 1976, WSOP championships are now counted as "bracelets".

Just as the prestige of the event has grown, so too has the quality of the bracelet. The earliest bracelets were valued at a few hundred dollars, while today's bracelet is designed by premier jeweler Corum.

Bracelet description

The 1976 bracelet looked "like gold nuggets kind of hammered flat." The bracelet in 1976 cost approximately $500. In the 80's Las Vegas jeweler Mordechai Yerushalmi became the exclusive manufacturer of WSOP bracelets until Harrah's Entertainment bought the rights to the WSOP in 2004." According to 2003 WSOP Champion Chris Moneymaker the design of the bracelet remained relatively unchanged under Yerushalmi. [ESPN's coverage of the 2007 World Series of Poker Episode 13]

In 2006, Frederick Goldman, Inc. made the WSOP bracelets while luxury watch maker Corum introduced some commemorative watches as part of the prize package. In 2006, the Champion's bracelet had 259 stones including 7.2 carats (1.4 g) of diamonds, 120 grams of white and yellow gold. It also used rubies to represent the heart and diamond suits, a sapphire to represent the spade and three black diamonds to represent the clubs.

In 2007, Corum became the official bracelet manufacturer for the WSOP. Some of the 2007 WSOP champions received both a watch and a bracelet from Corum. Corum designed four variations for the 2007 World Series of Poker Bracelets. The standard version that is presented to 53 winners features 53 diamonds. [http://www.globeinvestor.com/servlet/story/BWIRE.20070605.20070605006220/GIStory CORUM Introduces New World Series of Poker(R) Bracelets] 5 June 2007. "GlobalInvestor" Accessed July 30, 2007] The Ladies World Champion receives a bracelet that is adorned with four black diamonds, two rubies and 87 blue sapphires. [Press Release. [http://www.worldseriesofpoker.com/news/varchive.asp?aid=1021 Poker Academy Student Bests Largest-Ever Field To Become 2007 World Series of Poker Ladies Champion] June 13, 2007. "WorldSeriesofPoker.com" Accessed July 7, 2007] The $50,000 HORSE Champion Bracelet has 91 black diamonds and two rubies.Press Release. [http://www.worldseriesofpoker.com/news/varchive.asp?aid=824 CORUM Introduces New World Series of Poker Bracelets; Elegant Design Features 18 Carat Gold, Precious Gems] June 5, 2007. "WorldSeriesofPoker.com" Accessed July 7, 2007] The World Series of Poker Main Event Bracelet has 120 diamonds on 136 grams of 18 carat (75 percent) white gold. The value of the 2007 bracelets have not been released, but the typical price of a Corum watch ranges from $1,500-$30,000+. [ [http://www.nextag.com/corum-watch-men/search-html Corum pricelist per Next Tag] Accessed July 30, 2007]

Prestige

At first, the bracelets did not have much prestige. Ten-time bracelet winner Doyle Brunson said that his first bracelet "didn't mean anything to" him and that he did not even pick up two of them.

Some professional poker players believe that there are two types of poker players; those who have won a bracelet and those who have not. Those who have belong to an exclusive club. "It's impossible to overstate the value of a World Series of Poker gold bracelet to anyone who takes the game seriously," stated World Series of Poker Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack during the 2006 bracelet unveiling. "It is the equivalent of winning the Stanley Cup in hockey or the Lombardi Trophy in football." [Burton, Earl. [http://www.pokernews.com/news/2006/6/world-series-poker-bracelet.htm 2006 World Series of Poker Bracelet Unveiled] . June 7, 2006. "Pokernews.com" Accessed July 30, 2007]

Many professional poker players desire the recognition that is associated with the bracelet. Former Celebrity Poker Showdown host and poker star Phil Gordon said, "I want that bracelet more than anything." [ [http://www.pokerlistings.com/phil-gordons-quest-for-a-wsop-bracelet-continues-734 Phil Gordon's Quest for a WSOP Bracelet Continues] . (June 10, 2005). "Pokerlistings.com".] Freddy Deeb said that he did not appreciate his first bracelet because he did not recognize what it meant. He said his 2007 bracelet, however, "means everything to me". [Press Release. [http://www.worldseriesofpoker.com/news/varchive.asp?aid=1346 Freddy Deeb Wins $50,000 HORSE Championship at World Series of Poker Title Establishes Deeb as World's Best All-Around Player] June 29, 2007. "WorldSeriesOfPoker.com" Accessed July 30, 2007] Jennifer Tilly says that winning her 2005 Women's Championship bracelet was "better than an Oscar".ESPN's Coverage of the 2007 World Series of Poker, Episode 2]

History

Bracelets have not always been awarded for winning events. In 1970, the first WSOP Champion received nothing but a silver cup and whatever cash he won during the event. [The first WSOP was not a freeze out tournament, but rather a collection of the top players playing against one another and the eventual winner was determined by a vote. [http://www.pokerplayerpress.com/Gallery-JohnnyMoss.html Johnny Moss Biography] "PokerPlayerPress.com"] From 1971–1974, according to Becky Behnen (the daughter of WSOP founder Benny Binion), the winner received an undescribed "corny trophy".Associated Press [http://www.abqtrib.com/news/2006/jul/28/pokers-glory-is-about-the-bracelet-not-the-money/?printer=1/ Poker's glory is about the bracelet, not the money] "Albuquerque Tribune". (July 28, 2006).] In 1975, the winners received a sterling plate. The following year, 1976, the WSOP started the tradition of issuing bracelets to the event winners.

In 1980 and 1981, one did not have to win a WSOP event to win a gold bracelet. In 1980 and 1981, H.D. "Oklahoma Johny" Hale and Chip Reese received a gold bracelet for being the "Best All Around Player" at the WSOP, respectively. ["Oklahoma Johnny" Hale. [http://gaming.unlv.edu/WSOP/Hale.pdf “Oklahoma Johnny” Hale.] The Life and Times of a Gentleman Gambler. Las Vegas: Poker Plus Publications, 1999. 127-132. Accessed July 12, 2007] ] These bracelets, however, are not considered in the count of WSOP championship bracelets.

In 2007, Thomas Bihl became the first person to ever win a WSOP bracelet outside of Las Vegas, Nevada. Bihl won the £2,500 World Championship H.O.R.S.E. at the World Series of Poker Europe in London, England. Days later, Annette Obrestad became the youngest player to ever win a WSOP bracelet at 18 years, 364 days, also becoming the first woman to win a World Series Main Event. Harrah's Casinos, the owner of the WSOP, considers the WSOP Europe bracelet to be the same in prestige as those awarded every year in Las Vegas.

Bracelet legacy

Of the three top WSOP bracelet winners only Johnny Chan has them all. He keeps them locked in a vault because they are worth, according to him, "millions." Brunson did not pick up two of his. Eleven-time bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth gave away ten of his. "To me," Hellmuth said, "the bracelets have always been a really huge deal, to me more than the other guys, because I knew that they represented history."

Three-time WSOP Bracelet winner Hamid Dastmalchi and five-time winner Ted Forrest had been playing for four days non-stop at the Mirage when Hamid started to complain about the 1992 Main Event Championship Bracelet he received. Bitter about a dispute with the Binion's Horseshoe, the owners of the WSOP at the time, Hamid told the table that the Binion's "say it's worth $5,000, but I'd take $1,500 for it." To which Forrest responded "Sold" and immediately tossed Hamid $1,500 in chips. Dastmalchi mailed Forrest his bracelet. [Craig, Michael. [http://www.bluffmagazine.com/Magazine/2006_09_094.asp Drawing Dead] 09 Sept 06"Bluff Magazine Online" Accessed July 12, 2007] Ted Forrest also reported that three of his five bracelets have been stolen over the years, and that he gave his daughter one. [Administrator [http://www.ixgames.com/ted_forrest/ Ted Forrest Biography] "IXGames" Accessed July 30, 2007]

Multiple bracelet winners

References