World Series of Poker Champions

The World Series of Poker Main Event is the most prestigious poker tournament in the world. It has been played since 1970, and the winner becomes world champion of poker. Two players have won the title three times: the legendary Johnny Moss, and the card genius Stu Ungar. Doyle Brunson, and Johnny Chan has won the WSOP twice, and they both won two years in a row. Chan actually played heads-up for a third consecutive victory in 1989, but lost to Phil Hellmuth Jr. The prize money has increased in a big way over the years. In 1971, the champion Johnny Moss received $30,000. Last year, Joseph Hachem got $7,500,000 for his win.

2005 Joseph Hachem

2004 Greg Raymer

2003 Chris MoneyMaker (first time the the prize was $2.5 million)

2002 Robert Varkonyi

2001 Carlos Mortenson

2000 Chris "Jesus" Ferguson (first time the first prize was $1.5 million)

1999 Noel Furlong

1998 Scotty Nguyen

1997 Stu Ungar

1996 Huck See

1995 Dan Harrington

1994 Russ Hamilton (also won his weight in silver as a "WSOP Silver Anniversary" bonus)

1993 Jim Bechtel

1992 Hamid Dastmalchi

1991 Brad Daugherty (the first time the first prize was $1 million)

1990 Mansour Matloubi

1989 Phil Hellmuth, Jr. (youngest ever winner)

1988 Johnny Chan

1987 Johnny Chan

1986 Berry Johnston

1985 Bill Smith

1984 Jack Kellar

1983 Tom McEvoy

1982 Jack "Treetop" Strauss

1981 Stu Ungar

1980 Stu Ungar

1979 Hal Fowler

1978 Bobby Baldwin

1977 Doyle Brunson

1976 Doyle Brunson

1975 Sailor Roberts

1974 Johnny Moss

1973 Puggy Pearson

1972 "Amarillo Slim" Preston

1971 Johnny Moss (won in competition, as are all subsequent)

1970 Johnny Moss (awarded by peer vote)

source: Pokershopping.com