WSOP – Big One, The Biggest One
Jul 11, 2012 Poker History WSOP
A special event was added in WSOP 2012, WSOP Big One For One Drop, one of the most prized poker events with the winner making claim to over 18 million dollars. The tournament was a 1$ million buy-in with 48 professional poker players representing both the gaming industry and the business class. The tournament was hosted in Rio All Suite Casino, Las Vegas. About 11 percent of the individual buy-in went to the charity, One Drop. In 2006 WSOP, it was Jamie Gold who won the highest ever prize money in poker, about 12 million dollar. This time it was the magic man of poker, Antonio Esfandiari.
“One Drop” is a non-governmental organization (NGO) which was founded five years back in Canada. It is a charitable organization that provides access to water and runs sanitization projects in those countries where the vital resources and basic amenities are not available. One Drop is official charity for this 43rd world mega event of poker, WSOP 2012.
Besides professional poker players, the ones to put their million on the line were businessmen, Chief Executive Officers, Venture Capitalists, some Hedge Funds Managers and even a film producer. The two Phils were there, Negreanu was there, Michael Mizrachi, Bertrand Grospellier, Mike Sexton, Sam Trickett, Jonathan Duhamel and several other great players participated.
The No Limit Holde’m paid the last standing 9 players on the table. Antonio Esfandiari played well all through the three days of the event. The final table play was fantastic. Esfandiari had to battle it out to eliminated Hellmuth, David Einhorn and Sam Trickett. Phil Hellmuth finished at the fourth place, whereas Einhorn and Trickett finished at 3rd and 2nd place. Esfandiari was also awarded a special platinum bracelet. The event had almost everything in it – the pace, the drama, seriousness and the happy endings. This was the poker event of the year and those who missed it out really missed out the wonderful tournament in poker history.
It is not that one can only do the charity by participating in the tournament; there are few other ways for it as well. In November 2010, World Series of Poker 2008 Main Event winner, Peter Eastgate, sold his gold bracelet to raise money for charity. The bracelet was bought by Scottish businessman, William Haughey for $147,500. He is again planning to do the charity and this time the amount will be of $ 10, 000,000. Half of the amount he is going to donate to WSOP charity and half to a cancer hospital in the U.K. Besides this, one can also offer poker tip to help the needy.
