1980 World Series of Poker

The 1980 World Series of Poker was one of the most exciting of the tournament’s history. The Main Event ended up with veteran and two-time champ Doyle Brunson in a heads-up match with up-and-comer Stuey “The Kid” Ungar. There were 73 entrants in the Main Event, up from 54 the previous year, resulting in a cash prize of $365,000.

The cash prizes in the preliminary events were growing with each year and in 1980 there were two cash prizes worth more than $100,000. Sarge Ferris defeated Brunson in the final two of the $10,000 Deuce to Seven Draw for a $150,000 prize and Gene Fisher beat Louis Hansucker in $1,500 No Limit Hold’em for a $113,400 prize.

The Main Event began on May 19, 1980. There were 73 players participating from around the world. Each person believed he or she had a chance after amateur Hal Fowler had won it the previous year, proving the tournament wasn’t just for the game’s most honored players.

On the first day, 23 players were eliminated. There were 12 more eliminations on the second day, leaving a total of 38. Of those 38, three were former WSOP champions. By the end of the day, the field had been narrowed to 12.

The 12 finalists met the following day in a heated competition. Everyone clearly wanted to win the whole tournament, but to just finish in the top-five would result in a cash prize of some sort. Gabe Kaplan finished in sixth and out of the money. Following his defeat, the top-five had been identified and they decided to finish the following day.

The five finalists were Jay Heimowitz, Doyle Brunson, Charles Dunwoody, Stu Ungar, and Johnny Moss. Moss and Brunson were both former two-time WSOP champions. The first to leave that day was Dunwoody, who exited at 1:40 p.m. Moss was the next to go, bowing out five minutes later. The field was narrowed to two when Heimowitz was eliminated at 2:19 p.m.

After about forty minutes of one-on-one play, Ungar was dealt a 4s 5s and Brunson was dealt a Ah 7h. The flop came out Ad 7d 2c, giving Brunson two pairs. Brunson made an under bet and Ungar called. The turn card was a 3h, giving Ungar a straight. Both players would go all-in. Ungar’s straight topped Brunson’s two pairs, and the proverbial torch had been passed.

Ungar’s win represented a changing of the guard in the poker world. He was a young kid from New York who upset poker establishments like Doyle Brunson and Johnny Moss in the Main event. He would go on to win two more Main Events, becoming one of only two players in WSOP history to win three Main Events.

Ungar’s win is even more amazing given his background and expectations. Ungar had established himself as one of the best gin players in the world. His success almost worked to his detriment, however, as word spread quickly of his prowess and he struggled to find competitors. He entered the 1980 WSOP as a literal long shot according to bookmakers. He had only played in one poker tournament prior to winning the Main Event.

Article Source: 1980 World Series of Poker

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