Best WSOP Final Table Ever
 

1987 was bar none the greatest WSOP final table ever. Here are the top finishers:

Johnny Chan
Frank Henderson
Bob Ciaffone
Jim Spain
Howard Lederer
Dan Harrington
Eldon Elias
Mickey Appleman
Jack Keller

But which one of these should be first runner-up?

1980:
Stu Ungar
Doyle Brunson
Jay Heimowitz
Johnny Moss
Charles Dunwoody
I don't know the rest of the top nine.

1988:
Johnny Chan
Erik Seidel
Ron Graham
Humberto Brenes
T.J. Cloutier
Jim Bechtel
Quinton Nixon
Mike Cox
Jess Alto

1981:
Stu Ungar
Perry Green
Gener Fisher
Ken Smith
Bill Smith
Jay Heimowitz
Bobby Baldwin
Andy Moore
Sam Petrillo

Re: Best WSOP Final Table Ever
 

Bar none, huh? I'd take 1980 with Stuey, Dolly and Moss over 1987. Gabe Kaplan finished seventh after starting the final day with a huge chip lead.

There were also some real powerhouse tables in the 70's, but every player in those tournaments either was a top pro or has been held up to the light in the telling of history.

Gary

Re: Best WSOP Final Table Ever
 

How about 1971

Johny Moss
Puggy Pearson
Sailor Roberts
Jack Straus
Doyle Brunson
Jimmy Casella

Those were the only 6 entries that year.

1972 was a little stronger. The final 6 of 8 entries were:

Johny Moss
Puggy Pearson
Sailor Roberts
Jack Strauss
Ararillo Slim Preston
Doyle Brunson

Re: Best WSOP Final Table Ever
 

Bar none? Not sure you can say that. Those '80 and '88 tables look just as good if not better.

Re: Best WSOP Final Table Ever
 

The 1980 final four was definitely scary. Moss - considered the premier poker player in the 50's and early 60's. Candidate for greatest of all-time. Brunson - considered the greatest since the late 60's and the 70's. Candidate for greatest of all-time. Stu Ungar - premier player in the early 80's. Candidate for greatest of all-time. Heimowitz - arguably the greatest amateur of all time.

But we're talking final table here, not final four. Unfortunately, I couldn't find a list of the remaining four players in the 1980 final table.

I still think 1987 was the greatest. Harrington, Chan, and Keller in the final table. Plus bracelet winners Henderson, Graham, and Lederer. With high level theorist Ciaffone as a bonus.

Re: Best WSOP Final Table Ever
 

[ QUOTE ]
1972 final 6 of 8 entries were:

Johny Moss
Puggy Pearson
Sailor Roberts
Jack Strauss
Ararillo Slim Preston
Doyle Brunson

[/ QUOTE ]

My mind immediately went to this one, but it's really hard to say ... I like how another poster put it ... that they have:

[ QUOTE ]
been held up to the light in the telling of history

[/ QUOTE ]

I've read a lot of poker bios/history stuff and it never ceases to amaze me how these guys assume that the only 6 guys in the world that played NLHE at that time are still the best players in history. They were also the best golfers, sports bettors, gin players, domino players, and pool players in history.

I'd give a slight edge to 1980, with 1987 coming in second.

Re: Best WSOP Final Table Ever
 

2001 has to be in the running. Mortenson, Hellmuth, Matusow, Tomko, and Gordon made the final six.

Re: Best WSOP Final Table Ever
 

88

Re: Best WSOP Final Table Ever
 

2005 Kanter Hachem Black Barch....nuff said

Re: Best WSOP Final Table Ever
 

[ QUOTE ]
I've read a lot of poker bios/history stuff and it never ceases to amaze me how these guys assume that the only 6 guys in the world that played NLHE at that time are still the best players in history.

[/ QUOTE ]

Sorry, I was wrong. Moss, Brunson, and Amarillo Slim were all fish.