Johnny Moss – The Grand Old Man of Poker
The Grand Old Man of Poker
Johnny Moss is considered to be one of the best poker players that has every graced the poker tables. He was born in Odessa, Texas and it was while working in a gambling parlor as a teenager that he learned the tricks of the trade.
In his early days of playing poker he would travel all over the Southwest of the country playing the game he loved in both small towns and big cities. He was then involved in one of the most historical games of poker of all time and one which many feel was the prelude to the World Series of Poker that we have today.
His opponent in the game was Nick Dandolos otherwise known as ‘Nick The Greek’. Nick the Greek was well known everywhere for being a notorious gambler and the game between the two lasted for more than five months. This game was played out at a table in the front of the casino for tourists to see and eventually Moss won.
From there Moss became quite well known in the game and advanced to win some of the biggest tournaments. He amassed an astonishing eight World Series of Poker bracelets and many feel that had this competition been established earlier, that he would have won many more. In fact he actually won his last WSOP bracelet at the grand age of seventy.
His eight WSOP bracelets were a huge achievement and were won over a period of 18 years. He holds three No Limit Main Event titles. He was voted the champion in 1970, and won the event via freezeout tournament in 1971 and 1974. In 1975, 1976 and 1979 he took bracelets in Seven-card Stud and the Seven-card Stud Split bracelet in 1981. In both 1971 and 1988 he won the Ace to Five Draw bracelet. With eight bracelets, it is no wonder that people still think of him as the greatest player to have ever lived.
Johnny Moss died in 1997 and was still gambling well into his 90s. While living, he was given the nickname “The Grand Old Man of Poker.”
