If you’re a poker player, then you know that the World Series of Poker (WSOP) is the biggest and most prestigious tournament series in the world. But if you’re not a poker player, you may wonder about the fuss. WSOP bracelets are among the most coveted prizes in all sports and casino gaming, along with iconic trophies like the Stanley Cup. They symbolize poker greatness, which is even more impressive considering they were formerly worthless. This article will examine everything you need to know about the WSOP bracelets. We’ll explain how they’re awarded to who’s won them in the past. So read on, and get ready to be dazzled by the history of poker’s biggest prize!
What is the World Series of Poker?
Even if you’re unfamiliar with competitive poker or poker in general, there’s still a chance you’ve at least heard of the World Series of Poker. It is the longest-running, most prestigious, and most extensive poker tournament series. Since its inception in 1970, it has been the most prominent tournament where everybody watches the best of the best duke it out. It has also directly inspired numerous other tournaments, turning poker’s competitive scene into the giant it is today. It’s held annually in Las Vegas and consists of over a hundred events, with many different game types and variants like the classic Texas Holdem, Omaha, and HORSE. Winning any of these events nets you a hefty cash prize and a WSOP bracelet.
The birth of the WSOP bracelet
The bracelets took a while to evolve into the coveted symbols of poker greatness we know today. The earliest WSOP tournaments did not even give bracelets! In 1970, in the first ever tournament, winner Johnny Moss received a silver cup. From 1971 – 1974, winners got a “corny trophy,” according to Becky Behen (the daughter of Benny Binion, the founder of the WSOP). In 1975, the award was a sterling silver plate. Finally, in 1976, the first WSOP bracelets were introduced, looking like hammered gold nuggets and worth around $500.
The evolution of the bracelet
Over time, as poker became more popular and the tournament expanded, the WSOP bracelets evolved. From the 1980s until 2004, Mordechai Yerushalmi was the exclusive manufacturer of the bracelets. After Caesars Entertainment bought the rights to the WSOP, they auctioned off the opportunity to design the 2005 bracelets, which Gold and Diamond International won. The following year, Frederick Goldman, Inc. made the bracelets. In 2006, the Champion’s bracelet was ornately designed with rubies, sapphires, and black diamonds to represent the four card suits.
In 2010, OnTilt Designs Pty Ltd won a contract to produce the bracelets, and they decided to return to the past designs, wanting to create a bracelet people would wear in their day-to-day lives. In 2012, Jason Arasheben became the official manufacturer. The Main Event bracelet weighed over 160 grams of 14 karat gold and had more than 35 carats of flawless diamonds. Recently, the WSOP worked with a company called Jostens for the bracelets. They designed the 2019 main event bracelet, celebrating the WSOP’s 50th anniversary. Made out of 10K gold and containing 77 rubies and 2,175 diamonds, it is easily one of the most valuable trophies in money.
Famous WSOP bracelet winners
Winning a WSOP bracelet is one of the most effective ways to become a part of poker history. Here are some of the most famous WSOP bracelet winners of all time:
Where to play poker
We hope this article taught you much about the World Series of Poker bracelets. If this got you in the online poker mood, you should check out GGPoker, the world’s largest poker room. It’s officially affiliated with the WSOP and offers lots of variety, from low-stakes cash games to online WSOP tournaments complete with bracelets. It also offers all its users a free smart heads up display and poker tracker, so sign up at GGPoker today and check out the next poker tournaments.
