<P> The idea of a World Series of Poker began in 1969 with an event called the Texas Gambling Reunion . It was an invitational event sponsored by Tom Moore of San Antonio , Texas , and held at the Holiday Hotel and Casino in Reno . This inaugural event was won by Crandell Addington . The set of tournaments that the World Series of Poker ( WSOP ) would evolve into was the brainchild of Las Vegas casino owner and poker player Benny Binion . In 1970 , the first WSOP at Binion 's Horseshoe took place as a series of cash games that included five - card stud , deuce to seven low - ball draw , razz , seven - card stud , and Texas hold ' em . The format for the Main Event as a freeze - out Texas hold ' em game came the next year . The winner in 1970 , Johnny Moss , was elected by his peers as the first `` World Champion of Poker '' and received a silver cup as a prize . </P>
<P> The idea of a World Series of Poker began in 1969 with an event called the Texas Gambling Reunion . It was an invitational event sponsored by Tom Moore of San Antonio , Texas , and held at the Holiday Hotel and Casino in Reno . This inaugural event was won by Crandell Addington . The set of tournaments that the World Series of Poker ( WSOP ) would evolve into was the brainchild of Las Vegas casino owner and poker player Benny Binion . In 1970 , the first WSOP at Binion 's Horseshoe took place as a series of cash games that included five - card stud , deuce to seven low - ball draw , razz , seven - card stud , and Texas hold ' em . The format for the Main Event as a freeze - out Texas hold ' em game came the next year . The winner in 1970 , Johnny Moss , was elected by his peers as the first `` World Champion of Poker '' and received a silver cup as a prize . </P>
who won the first world series of poker held at binions
who won the first world series of poker held at binions
Johnny Moss
Johnny Moss