Poker Legend – Johnny Moss
- Birthdate: May 14, 1907
- Died: December 16, 1995
- Birthplace: Odessa, Texas
- Resides: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
When he was in his teens, eminent poker legend Johnny Moss
worked at a local saloon, making sure poker players weren’t cheating. After two
years he became a rounder, travelling around the country playing poker.
Moss played in a famous heads-up match against the far older
and more experienced high-roller, “Nick the Greek” Dandalos.
The match-up was arranged by Horseshoe owner and World Series of Poker (WSOP) founder Benny Binion, and spanned
five months during 1949.
World
Series of Poker Career Johnny Moss
Moss won the
1970, 1971, and 1974 WSOP Main Events,
although in 1970 he was elected champion by the other players and won no prize
money.
Moss didn’t miss
a single World Series of Poker between 1970 and 1995 and amassed 9 bracelets,
currently placing him 4th on the all-time list and cementing his
status as a poker legend.
Over the course
of his 25-year career, Johnny Moss won over $680 000 in tournament play prizes.
Johnny Moss Trivia
- Moss is often called the “Grand
Old Man” of poker, because of his staying power on the tour and his impressive
poker skills - He was inducted as a charter
member of the Poker
Hall of Fame in 1979 - The Texas Hold’em starting hand Ace-Ten is named “The
Johnny Moss” in his honour.