The History of WSOP: 1985 – The Genius of a Champion Under the Influence

The year 1985 is remembered as a turning point that forever divided the history of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) into two eras. On one side stood the legendary "road gamblers" who played poker long before the series even began. On the other side emerged ambitious young players and an increasing crowd of amateurs.

The 1985 WSOP not only saw the crowning of new champions but also marked the crossing of two magical milestones. Since 1970, total participation exceeded 10,000 entries, and more than $20 million had been awarded in prizes.

Johnny Chan's First Victory and Slim's Comeback

Before the main event took center stage, the side events brought several historic moments. The most notable was undoubtedly Event #2: $1K Limit Hold'em, which attracted a then-record field of 342 entries. The winner was the 28-year-old Johnny Chan, who was still largely unknown to the world.

Chan took home $171,000 for his first bracelet, and no one could have predicted that they were witnessing the rise of a future megastar and Hall of Fame inductee.

The old guard also made a statement. Amarillo Slim Preston triumphed in Event #8: $5K PLO, earning his third bracelet. It was his first WSOP victory in 11 years, setting a record for the longest gap between titles at that time.

Dick Carson claimed his second career title in the opening tournament, specializing in Lowball and consistently reaching final tables in this discipline for over a decade.

Official Results of the 1985 WSOP Tournaments

Tournament	Entries	Winner	Prize
Event #1: $2,500 No-Limit Ace to Five Draw	40	Dick Carson	$50,000
Event #2: $1,000 Limit Hold'em	342	Johnny Chan	$171,000
Event #3: $1,000 Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo	149	John Lukas	$74,500
Event #4: $10,000 No-Limit 2-7 Draw Lowball	19	Tommy Fischer	$95,000
Event #5: $1,000 No-Limit Hold'em	304	Rick Hamil	$152,000
Event #6: $1,000 Limit Ace to Five Draw	127	Mark Mitchell	$63,500
Event #7: $500 Ladies' Seven Card Stud	74	Rose Pifer	$18,500
Event #8: $5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha (Rebuy)	22	Amarillo Slim	$85,000
Event #9: $1,000 Pot-Limit Omaha (Rebuy)	112	Zorn Venture	$105,000
Event #10: $1,000 Limit Omaha	111	Tony Thang	$55,500
Event #11: $5,000 Seven Card Stud	49	Harry Thomas	$122,500
Event #12: $1,000 Seven Card Stud	171	Don Williams	$85,500
Event #13: $1,000 Seven Card Razz	127	Edwin Wyde	$83,500
Event #14: $10,000 Main Event (NLH)	140	Bill Smith	$700,000
Event #15: $1,000 Casino Employees NLH	10	Ted Binion	$10,000

The Bubble That Refused to Burst

The Main Event delivered the biggest drama, continuing the trend of growing participation. This time, a record 140 players entered, but only the top 9 places were paid. This led to one of the longest "money bubble" stages in history, as the last ten players refused to bust for five hours.

It was during this phase that the eventual winner, Bill Smith, shone. He survived three consecutive all-ins with A-K, then eliminated Gary Lundgren, using the bubble battles to climb back into contention for the title.

The final table featured a stellar lineup dominated by Texans. Notably, it included the legendary Johnny Moss, a three-time Main Event champion and eight-time WSOP winner, who received a standing ovation for his 7th-place finish. Everyone present knew they were witnessing a legendary figure in the twilight of his career.

Alongside him sat future world champions Berry Johnston and Hamid Dastmalchi, and the relentless Jesse Alto, marking his sixth final table appearance in the Main Event.

The Best "Half-Drunk" Player

The winner was Bill Smith, a figure who still evokes both awe and sadness in the poker world. Smith was a Korean War veteran and a classic Texas road gambler.

The 1985 champion's story has a quirky background, as his entry to the Main Event was won in a satellite by his friend Dale Suttle. While Suttle lacked confidence in tournaments, seasoned player Smith didn't have the buy-in. They agreed Smith would play the Main Event on Suttle's ticket, and they'd split the winnings.

Bill Smith was known for his love of alcohol. His friend T.J. Cloutier famously wrote in books, "When he was sober, he played simply and predictably. But when he was half-drunk, he was the best player you could sit against. No one could read opponents like him. However, once he got too drunk, he became the worst player in history."

Even Barbara Enright later recalled never seeing Bill without a bottle of Budweiser, yet he was always elegantly dressed and friendly. During the final table, Suttle kept an eye on Smith, ordering him cognacs at the Horseshoe bar to maintain his "genius" level of inebriation.

In the final heads-up, Bill Smith faced T.J. Cloutier, two Texas friends. Though Cloutier initially led, a key hand saw Smith double up with kings against Cloutier's nines.

In the tournament's final hand, Smith raised with a pair of 3 s 3 h and Cloutier, upon glancing at an ace in his hand, announced an all-in with A d 3 c. The board 5 s 5 h 9 s 5 c K d didn’t aid Cloutier, and Bill Smith became the world champion, securing a then-record prize of $700,000.

A Champion's Bitter End

Following his victory, Smith fulfilled a dream shared by every player. He chartered a private plane home to Dallas, believing that every world champion should experience it at least once.

Sadly, the money didn't last. Unable to manage his lifestyle and alcoholism, a year later, he was already seeking investors at the Horseshoe casino to fund his buy-in for the Main Event, having only $6,000 left in his pocket. Nonetheless, he made it back to the Main Event final table in 1986, finishing fifth.

Bill Smith died in poverty in 1996. For many years, he was the only champion whose photo didn't hang among the other winners at the WSOP, as his family wished for privacy. Finally, in 2021, his image took its rightful place among the poker kings. Yet, he remains the only winner from the 1980s missing from the Poker Hall of Fame.