| 1970 World Series of Poker | |
|---|---|
| Location | Binion's Horseshoe,Las Vegas,Nevada |
| Dates | May 8 |
| Champion | |
 Johnny Moss | |
← 1969 1971 → | |
The1970World Series of Poker (WSOP) was first held on May 8, 1970.[1] Unlike the WSOP events that followed it, which are decided using afreeze-out tournament, the 1970 champion was decided from a vote by the players.Jack Binion invited the best seven poker players in America to hisBinion's Horseshoecasino inLas Vegas,Nevada to decide who was America's best poker player.[2]
After acash game session,Johnny Moss was voted the best in the world by"Amarillo Slim" Preston,Sailor Roberts,Doyle Brunson,Puggy Pearson,Crandell Addington, andCarl Cannon.[3] Moss was awarded a silver cup rather than abracelet, which was not established as the prize until1976.[4][5]
According to anapocryphal legend, two votes were taken to determine the best player in the world. In the first, the players were asked to vote for the best player, and, the story goes, each voted for himself. In the second vote, they were asked to vote for the second-best player, and Moss won the vote and was awarded the title.[6][7]