That victory launched what became the 2003 poker boom. His WSOP Main Event victory showcased him as an average recreational player who won an online poker satellite for less than $100 and turned that into $2.5M in Las Vegas. In 2003, Chris Moneymaker catapulted the WSOP’s popularity to a new level. Satellite tournaments gave a growing player pool the opportunity to compete starting in 1983.
TV coverage and WSOP player personalities generated increased attention. Over time, more players competed in different tournament formats. The WSOP began running in 1970 when a handful of poker players gathered at the Binion’s Horseshoe in Las Vegas, Nevada to determine the best all-around player. The World Series of Poker is the longest running poker tournament series in the world.
