Back in 2009, a 74-year-old real estate broker from Brooklyn, New York, came to Las Vegas to play the World Series of Poker. It was the first WSOP for the former singer who entered one event, the $10,000 Seven-Card Stud Championship.
Ellis went on to win the tournament after beating another legend - Eric Drache - heads-up, solidifying his name to be forever remembered at the WSOP. Ellis' playing against a tough table with Brian Hastings and Cory Zeidman, but it seems like the 79-year-old has not lost his moves.
The $10,000 World Series of Poker Main Event is only a few days away, but there's still plenty of time to win a seat to the grandest tournament of the year. On July 5, WSOP.com in Nevada is guaranteeing 25 seats to the Main Event in the 25 Seat Scramble, a $215 satellite that begins at 5 p.m. PST.
If $215 is out of your budget, satellites to the are running for as little as $1.10. There are also $27.50 super satellites guaranteeing 10 entries each into the 25 Seat Scramble running at the following times:
Tuesday, July 1 – 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, July 3 – 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, July 5 – 2 p.m.
Anyone can play, and anyone can win. Register for today's $27.50 satellite and take your shot at poker immortality!
Holocaust survivor and the inventor of the hole card camera, which made poker popular on TV, Henry Orenstein will be playing in this event. Orenstein was born in 1923 and at the age of 90 he will be playing in the Seven Card Stud Championship, the event he won back in 1996.
Back in 1996 Orenstein won the $5,000 Seven Card Stud Championship at the age of 72, and he's only cashed in one poker tournament since. Orenstein will do the honorary shuffle up and deal for this event, and the tournament will start shortly.
Seven Card Stud is a staple in poker and its championship event is always highly anticipated. Today is the day the best stud players in the world meet in the $10,000 Championship event, and we're right here to bring you all the coverage. For the first time since 2011 - and for the fifth time in World Series of Poker history - the Seven Card Stud championship has a $10,000 buy in and a stacked field is expected to play today.
Last year, when the tournament had a $2,500 buy in, it was David Chiu who took down the second Seven Card Stud championship of his poker career. Chiu won the event back in 2000 as well and this year he'll try to become a three-time winner. Men 'the master' Nguyen won this event in 2003 and 2010 and that shows once more that this tournament is a true test of poker skill.
Here's a look at the past 20 years of this tournament:
Year
Buy in
Entrants
Winner
First Prize
Runner-up
Second Prize
2013
$2,500
246
David Chiu
$145,520
Scott Seiver
$89,980
2012
$5,000
145
John Monnette
$190,826
Huu Vinh
$117,913
2011
$10,000
126
Betrand Grospellier
$331,639
Steve Landfish
$204,924
2010
$10,000
150
Men Nguyen
$394,807
Brandon Adams
$243,958
2009
$10,000
142
Freddie Ellis
$373,751
Eric Drache
$231,013
2008
$10,000
158
Eric Brooks
$415,856
Fu Wong
$259,910
2007
$5,000
180
Chris Reslock
$258,453
Phil Ivey
$143,820
2006
$5,000
183
Benjamin Lin
$256,620
Shawn Sheikhan
$171,080
2005
$5,000
192
Jan Sorensen
$293,275
Keith Sexton
$162,430
2004
$5,000
144
Joe Awada
$221,000
Marcel Luske
120,800
2003
$5,000
96
Men Nguyen
$178,560
Mel Judah
$102,680
2002
$5,000
92
Qushqar Morad
$172,960
Steven Banks
$99,460
2001
$5,000
104
Allen Cunningham
$201,760
Michael Danino
$100,880
2000
$5,000
101
David Chiu
$202,000
Ken Flaton
$101,000
1999
$2,500
199
David Grey
$199,000
Eli Balas
$99,500
1998
$5,000
104
Jan Chen
$208,000
Don Barton
$104,000
1997
$5,000
88
Mel Judah
$176,000
Vasilis Lazarou
$101,200
1996
$5,000
65
Henry Orenstein
$130,000
Humberto Brenes
$74,750
1995
$5,000
77
Anthony DeAngelo
$154,000
TJ Cloutier
$88,550
1994
$5,000
72
Roger Moore
$144,000
Adam Roberts
$82,800
The tournament will kick off at 4:00 p.m. local time and ten levels will be played. Late registration will be open throughout the break after the sixth level.