The 1978 World Series of Poker (WSOP) was a series of poker tournaments held in May 1978 at Binion's Horseshoe. Its Main Event was the first to not have a winner-take-all prize. Instead the tournament had a progressive prize structure, with 50 percent for the winner, then 20% for second, 15% for third, 10% for fourth, and 5% for fifth place.

Events There were ten preliminary events at the 1978 World Series of Poker. Future Poker Hall of Famer Chip Reese won his first WSOP bracelet in the 1978 WSOP.

#Date EventEntries Winner Prize Runner-upResults1May 7, 1978 $10,000 No Limit Deuce to Seven Draw15 Billy Baxter (1/2) $90,000 Byron Wolford Results2May 8, 1978 $1,000 Limit Razz32 Gary Berland (1/2) $19,200 David Singer Results3May 9, 1978 $500 Limit Seven-card stud57Gary Berland (2/3) $17,100 Neil Einfeld Results4May 10, 1978 $5,000 Limit Seven Card Stud23 Doyle Brunson (1/5) $68,000 Bobby Baldwin (0/2) Results5May 11, 1978 $1,000 No Limit Hold'em71 Aubrey Day (1/2) $42,600 Unknown Results6May 12, 1978 $200 Ladies' Limit Seven Card Stud84 Terry King (1/2) $10,080 Starla Brodie Results7May 13, 1978 $5,000 Limit Draw High7 Lakewood Louie (1/1) $21,000 Rick Greider Results8May 14, 1978 $1,500 No Limit Hold'em52 Hans Lund (1/1) $46,800 Curtiss Skinner Results9May 15, 1978 $1,000 Limit Seven Card Stud Split32 Chip Reese (1/1) $19,200 Jerry Pruitt Results10May 16, 1978 $1,000 Limit Ace to Five Draw32 Henry Young (1/1) $19,200 Gary Berland (0/3) Results11May 17, 1978$10,000 No Limit Hold'em Main Event42Bobby Baldwin (1/3)$210,000Crandell AddingtonResults

Main Event

There were 42 entrants to the main event. Each paid $10,000 to enter the tournament. The 1978 Main Event was the first edition of the tournament to pay prize money to any players other than the winner. Bobby Baldwin received half of the total prize pool for his win. Crandell Addington finished runner-up in the Main Event, which he did in the 1974 WSOP Main Event.

Final table

Place Name Prize 1st Bobby Baldwin $210,000 2nd Crandell Addington $84,000 3rd Louis Hunsucker $63,000 4th Buck Buchanan $42,000 5th Jesse Alto $21,000 6th Ken Smith None

Performance of past champions Day one: Johnny Moss, Thomas "Amarillo Slim" Preston, Walter "Puggy" Pearson, Brian "Sailor" Roberts, Doyle Brunson

Other notable players Gabe Kaplan and Barbara Freer (the first woman player).

References

External links Tournament results at the World Series of Poker Tournament results at the Hendon Mob Poker Database