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- For the 2006 video game, see World Series of Poker: Tournament of Champions
The World Series of Poker Tournament of Champions was an invitational freeroll poker event. Wins in this event do not count as official WSOP bracelets, but the winner receives a large trophy in the shape of the official World Series of Poker logo.
The first event took place on 1 September 2004 with invitations only being extended to ten of the most well-known names on the poker tournament circuit. The winner took home a $2,000,000 prize. No other participants received prize money.
The 2005 event took place between November 6 and November 8 at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. Prior to the event, Harrah's advertised that to qualify a player would need to win any World Series of Poker circuit events or by reaching the final table of the 2005 WSOP $10,000 no limit Texas hold 'em championship event. Controversy erupted however when Pepsi, the event's sponsor, insisted that Phil Hellmuth, Doyle Brunson, and Johnny Chan be granted Sponsor Exemptions. Despite public protests from other players that they were lied to as the event was billed as one that one had to qualify for, ESPN and Harrah's newly hired Vice President of Sports and Entertainment Marketing, Jeffrey Pollack allowed the three to participate. Hellmuth finished third, while Chan and Brunson missed the final table, coming in 13th and 10th, respectively. From 2006 onward, Harrah's reserved the right to let in up to six players in via sponsor's exemptions.
| Position |
Competitor |
Prize |
| 1st |
Mike Matusow |
$1,000,000 |
| 2nd |
Hoyt Corkins |
$325,000 |
| 3rd |
Phil Hellmuth Jr. |
$250,000 |
| 4th |
Tony Bloom |
$150,000 |
| 5th |
Steve Dannenmann |
$100,000 |
| 6th |
Grant Lang |
$75,000 |
| 7th |
David Levi |
$50,000 |
| 8th |
Keith Sexton |
$25,000 |
| 9th |
Brandon Adams |
$25,000 |
The 2006 field of twenty-seven players included the 9 players who made the final table of the 2005 WSOP main event, the winners of the 11 WSOP Circuit events in the preceding calendar year, and some sponsor exemptions.
[edit] Final table
| Position |
Competitor |
Prize |
| 1st |
Mike Sexton |
$1,000,000 |
| 2nd |
Daniel Negreanu |
$325,000 |
| 3rd |
Mike Matusow |
$250,000 |
| 4th |
Chris Reslock |
$150,000 |
| 5th |
Andrew Black |
$100,000 |
| 6th |
Darrell Dicken |
$75,000 |
| 7th |
Chris Ferguson |
$50,000 |
| 8th |
Thang "Kido" Pham |
$25,000 |
| 9th |
Daniel Bergsdorf |
$25,000 |
[edit] Other qualifiers and invitees
[edit] 2005 WSOP Main Event Final Table Players
[edit] WSOP Circuit Event Winners
[edit] Sponsor Exemptions
Harrah's put the Tournament of Champions on hold indefinitely.
[edit] External links
