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Stateline, NV – No-Limit Hold'em is the undisputed king of all poker games.  In fact, 90 percent of all of today's poker tournaments feature No-Limit Hold'em.  This explosion in popularity has come at a cost.  Now it's difficult, if not impossible to find a game of Omaha or Seven-Card Stud inside many cardrooms.  Five-Card Draw has practically gone the way of the dinosaur.  It's virtually disappeared from modern casino, abandoned to the ash heap of history.

The World Series of Poker was, is, and will always be the leader in introducing new games and innovation.  After all, no one except for a few hard-core poker pros living in the American South had ever heard of Hold'em, at least until 37 years ago.  In 1970 -- because of the World Series of Poker -- Hold'em became the game that decided poker's world championship.  In the nearly four decades since then, the WSOP has helped to popularize new poker games – such as Omaha, Stud, Lowball, Razz, and other forms of poker.

Now for the first time in history, the WSOP Circuit offered a new kind of poker tournament to its players.  Event #5 at Harvey's Lake Tahoe featured a mix of two games -- No-Limit Hold'em and No-Limit Seven-Card Stud.  This is believed to be the first time such a tournament has ever been offered anywhere in the world.

No-Limit Seven Card Stud is certainly a novelty.  It is played in only a few places, such as online.  But if you were to ask 100 random poker players if they have ever played "No-Limit Seven-Card Stud," you would most likely get a blank stare followed by 100 negative responses.

A modest turnout of 47 players participated in the first tournament of its kind.  After 44 players had busted out, when play became three-handed, the remaining players agreed to a deal and split up the prize money.  Michael Yoshihara was declared the winner of the event, and became the unofficial No-Limit Hold'em/No Limit Seven-Card Stud "world champion."

It's reasonable to ask why the WSOP Circuit would offer such an unusual mix of games to its players.  No doubt, many doubters were asking the late Benny Binion the very same question back in 1970.  And, we all know how that turned out.
       
For more information, please contact: 
Nolan Dalla -- WSOP Media Director at (702) 358-4642
Or visit our official website:  www.worldseriesofpoker.com

World Series of Poker Commissioner – Jeffrey Pollack
Director of Poker Operations for Harrah's Entertainment – Jack Effel
Harrah's Lake Tahoe Race and Sportsbook Manager – Steve Schorr
Harvey's Lake Tahoe Poker Room Manager – Vince Contaxis