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The New Millenium

The year 2000 saw the main event grow significantly, breaking not only 400 players but also surpassing 500. Some old-timers continued to boycott the tournament in protest of Jack Binion being squeezed out by his family, though this did not include T.J. Cloutier. Cloutier was still pursuing his first world championship after finishing in the top two back in 1985. Once again, he found himself in that position, needing only to beat Chris “Jesus” Ferguson to claim the title.

On the final hand, Cloutier managed to get Ferguson all-in pre-flop, holding Ace of Any ColorQueen of Any Color, which dominated Ferguson’s Ace of Any Color9 of Any Color. The flop came down 2 of Any ColorKing of Any Color4 of Any Color, and Cloutier only had to avoid a 9 of Any Color on the turn or river. The turn card was a King of Any Color, leaving Cloutier needing to dodge one of the three remaining nines in the deck. The river card was dealt—the 9 of Hearts of hearts. Cloutier bowed his head in disappointment as another championship slipped away. Ferguson raised his arms in triumph, winning the world championship and $1.5 million in prize money, while Cloutier settled for $896,000 and no bracelet.

Expansion and evolution

In 2001, the final table expanded from six to nine players, a format that remains today. A total of 613 entrants competed, each paying $10,000 for a shot at glory. One of the most interesting hands that year involved Phil Hellmuth against Reagan Silber. Hellmuth had pocket kings, and Silber raised from first position. Hellmuth re-raised, and Silber pushed all-in. Hellmuth thought for a while, then folded his kings, demanding to see Silber’s cards. Silber turned over Ace of Any ColorAce of Any Color, confirming Hellmuth’s remarkable laydown.

This hand and other well-played ones catapulted Hellmuth to the final six, alongside Dewey Tomko, Phil Gordon, Mike “The Mouth” Matusow, and relative unknowns Carlos Mortensen and Stan Schrier. Mortensen started by bluffing Matusow, crippling him, and then caught several opponents bluffing throughout the tournament.

One by one, the opponents dropped off. Hellmuth, the 1989 world champion, was next to go, followed by Gordon and Schrier. This left Tomko between Mortensen and the title. In the decisive hand, Mortensen, holding King of Any ColorQueen of Clubs of clubs, bet $100,000, which Tomko called. The flop came Jack of Diamonds10 of Clubs3 of Clubs, giving Mortensen an open-ended straight draw and a flush draw. Mortensen bet $100,000 again, and Tomko raised to $400,000. Mortensen pushed all-in, and Tomko called with pocket aces. A 3 of Diamonds on the turn made Tomko the favorite, but a 9 of Any Color on the river gave Mortensen a straight, securing the title and $1.5 million prize.

Julian Gardner’s comeback

In 2000, Julian “The Kid” Gardner had an excellent start but didn’t make it past the first day. He didn’t play in 2001, but in 2002, he took another shot. This year, he made it to the final table. The final showdown was between Gardner and amateur Robert Varkonyi, an investment banker from New York.

Varkonyi, an intellectual genius, was such a newcomer that Phil Hellmuth agreed to shave his head if Varkonyi won. In the decisive hand, Varkonyi raised with Queen of Diamonds10 of Spades, and Gardner called with Jack of Clubs8 of Clubs. The flop came Queen of Clubs4 of Clubs4 of Spades, giving Varkonyi top pair and Gardner a flush draw. Gardner checked, and Varkonyi bet $50,000. Gardner shoved, and Varkonyi called. The turn was the 10 of Diamonds of diamonds, and the river was another 10 of Any Color, giving Varkonyi a full house and the world championship of 2002. Varkonyi won the title, and Hellmuth’s hair was in jeopardy.

Jack Binion’s exclusion

In 1999, Jack Binion was forced out of the WSOP operations due to a family struggle, causing a boycott by many top players. Jack, however, remained active in the gaming industry, expanding his own company. His sister Becky took over the WSOP, disappointing many players close to Jack and Benny Binion. Despite the internal disputes, the 1999 WSOP grew to almost 400 entrants. The top three were Padraig Parkinson, Noel Furlong, and Alan Goehring.

Furlong, a carpet manufacturer from Ireland, played aggressively and established a big chip lead. In the final hand, Goehring, holding pocket sixes, raised, and Furlong called. The flop came Queen of Any ColorQueen of Any Color5 of Any Color2 of Any Color. Furlong shoved with pocket fives for a full house, and Goehring called, only to see his tournament hopes dashed. Furlong won the title and the million-dollar prize.