As reported by USA Today: "Doyle Brunson was in prime contention when he quit the 1972 World Series of Poker. He said he was ill, but that was a fib.
Brunson left because some news reporters
Doyle Brunson and TV cameras started showing up at Binion's Horseshoe Casino in Las Vegas. Back home in Texas, he had kept it a secret that he played poker for a living.
"You were looked at like you were a second-class citizen if you were a gambler," he says. "None of my neighbors knew I was a poker player. So when they came in with all the media, I pretended to be sick and left."
Now, with the World Series marking its 40th year, thousands of players from around the world are drawn to its spotlight. TV coverage and attention far beyond what Brunson encountered are part of the allure. Surprise winners have become the norm, and the WSOP has made that a selling point.
"Anyone can enter, anybody can win and you're not just entering any poker tournament. You're entering the world's most important poker tournament," says Jeffrey Pollack, WSOP president and commissioner..."
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