Ace Up

Published on Friday, November 28, 2003 5:49:47 PM

Once upon a time names like Johnny Chan, Phil Hellmuth Jr. and Chris Moneymaker were just that -- names. Today, however, these names spark a flame in any card player's eye the way the name Joe Namath does to the flag football player, or Tiger Woods does to the amateur golfer.

Chan, Hellmuth and Moneymaker all are champions of the ESPN-covered World Series of Poker, earning millions of dollars and everlasting glory in the poker universe.

In the last decade, the game of poker has enjoyed a surge in popularity. While cards always have been available as a pastime, poker didn't begin to draw the attention that lavishes the sport now until the 1970s, when the World Series of Poker was established. Benny Binion, a casino owner, began the Series as a world championship for poker players and had seven contestants in the first year. Participation numbers began to rise slowly with each following year, and in last year's event, 7,595 poker-hopefuls entered the competition.

Third-year Commerce student Rick Wampler is a prime example of the far-reaching effects of Binion's game. Originally from Louisville, Ky., Wampler said he started playing poker at the age of 11.

Upon arrival at the University two years ago, Wampler was eager to find new games and continue with his hobby. He soon found, however, that there was a lack of participation and interest among other first-year students in poker games. To make up for this apathy, Wampler slowly recruited fellow dorm members of Watson to play with him.

The Cavalier Daily Online has the full story. Click here.