World Series of Poker
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.
Blair Rodman
Rodman has been playing poker professionally since 1985, when he quit his job dealing craps.
He has had numerous finishes in the money at the World Series of Poker (WSOP) in hold'em, seven-card stud, and Omaha poker tournaments. In March 2005, he made his first World Poker Tour (WPT) final table, finishing 2nd to Arnold Spee in the 2005 World Poker Challenge. In May 2005, Rodman made the final table of the Professional Poker Tour event won by Ted Forrest. He also made the final tables at the 2nd and 3rd Ultimate Poker Challenge grand finals, finishing 2nd and 6th respectively. He made a second WPT final table in February 2006, again finishing 2nd, this time to Barry Greenstein in the Pro-Celebrity Invitational event. On July 1, 2007, Rodman won his first bracelet, in the 2007 World Series of Poker , winning $707,898.