2005 World Series of Poker
The 2005 World Series of Poker (WSOP) was a game-changer for the world of poker and set the stage for the rise of professional poker players. The tournament was heavily anticipated due to the previous year's event that saw amateur player Chris Moneymaker win the main event and take home $2.5 million.
This year, the event attracted 5,619 players, with a prize pool of $52.8 million, making it the largest main event in WSOP history at the time. Among the players were famous names such as Phil Hellmuth, Mike Matusow, and Johnny Chan.
The tournament was held at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas and spanned over two weeks. The main event had a buy-in of $10,000, and players started with a stack of $10,000 in chips.
As the tournament progressed, the field narrowed down to a final table of nine players. Among them was Steve Dannenmann, an amateur player from Maryland who had never played in a WSOP event before. The other players on the final table were seasoned professionals such as Mike Matusow, Aaron Kanter, and Rhett Butler.
The final table began on July 7, 2005, and was broadcast on ESPN. The atmosphere was electric, and the crowd was on the edge of their seats as they watched the players battle it out for the top prize.
The first player to be eliminated was Aaron Kanter, followed by John "Tex" Barch, who was knocked out by Mike Matusow. Matusow was on a roll and managed to eliminate two more players, Scott Lazar and Andrew Black, to reach the top three.
At this point, Steve Dannenmann, who had played conservatively throughout the tournament, started to make his move. He won several big pots and took over the chip lead from Matusow.
The final hand of the tournament saw Matusow go all-in with a pair of fives, and Dannenmann called with ace-three offsuit. The flop came down ace-king-five, giving Matusow a set of fives and Dannenmann a pair of aces. The turn was a three, giving Dannenmann two pairs, and the river was a nine, sealing the victory for the amateur player.
Steve Dannenmann won $4.25 million for his first-place finish, while Mike Matusow took home $1 million for his third-place finish. The 2005 WSOP main event was a turning point for poker, as it showed that amateur players could compete against and beat seasoned professionals.
The victory also launched Dannenmann's career as a professional poker player. He went on to play in several WSOP events, including the main event in 2006, where he finished in 45th place.
The 2005 WSOP also had several other memorable moments. Phil Hellmuth, who is known for his eccentric behavior on and off the table, had a meltdown during a hand against Sam Farha. Hellmuth held pocket kings, and Farha called his all-in with ace-king offsuit. The flop came down ace-queen-ten, giving Farha a pair of aces. Hellmuth could not hold back his frustration and launched into a tirade, calling Farha a "trick-ass hustler" and complaining about how he always loses to "these idiots."
There were also several high-profile players who did not make it to the final table, including Doyle Brunson, Phil Ivey, and Daniel Negreanu. Brunson, who is considered one of the greatest poker players of all time, was knocked out on day three of the event.
In conclusion, the 2005 World Series of Poker was a landmark event in the history of poker. It showed that amateur players could compete against the best in the world and win, paving the way for a new generation of professional poker players. The tournament also featured several unforgettable moments that are still talked about today, cementing its place in the annals of poker history.