1972 World Series of Poker
series of poker tournaments
The 1972 World Series of Poker (WSOP) was a series of poker tournaments held during May 1972 at the Binion's Horseshoe in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was the third annual installment of the World Series of Poker, and also the second one to feature the freezeout structure. In comparison with the previous year's series, the number of events was cut back and the buy-ins were raised, resulting in one preliminary event and the Main Event both having the same buy-in of $10,000. The preliminary event featured five-card stud poker and was won by Bill Boyd, the same man who won the 1971 five-card stud preliminary event. The previous years' double champion Johnny Moss was defeated early in the main event and Thomas "Amarillo Slim" Preston went on to win the tournament after a series of deals.
Events
The preliminary event had a very small turnout, featuring only last year's five-card stud champion Bill Boyd, and an unknown player. The event was played out on May 7, and Boyd relieved the other player of his money, cashing for $20,000. Boyd became the second player in WSOP history to win multiple career bracelets, joining Johnny Moss. Boyd went on to win two more five-card stud events in 1973 and 1974 until five-card stud was dropped from the WSOP event schedule.
Main Event
12 people were slated to appear at the Main Event, but due to reportedly attractive side cash games only eight of them appeared at the tables on May 11, the date the event was scheduled to run.
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