WSOP 2001: Record Field and Big Names
The 2001 WSOP was not the first event to be televised, but the Discovery Channel upped the ante by covering it in style.
Following the highs and lows of tournament poker by focusing on a few key players, this documentary gave viewers a glimpse into why the WSOP had come to be known as the Super Bowl of poker. And what a year to tune in!
While it seems small now, the field of 613 players was a record breaker at the time, making it the largest live Main Event field ever. That huge turnout generated a $6+ million prize pool.
The Discovery Channel couldn’t have asked for a final table as packed with characters either, with Hellmuth, Dewey Tomko, Matusow, Phil Gordon and Carlos Mortenson all making the cut.
Phil Hellmuth – already the 1989 Main Event champ and seven-time bracelet winner – hoped to join Johnny Chan and Doyle Brunson to win a second Main Event bracelet. Beside him was Mike “The Mouth” Matusow, fresh off a bracelet win in Deuce-to-Seven.
In an interview after Hellmuth busted him in 6th, Mike said “You could be the best, best, best player in the world and never get back here.” However, Mike beat his prediction by finishing 9th in 2005.
Here are the final results for the 2001 WSOP:
| Carlos Mortensen | 1st place, $1,500,000 |
| Dewey Tomko | 2nd place, $1,098,925 |
| Stan Schrier | 3rd place, $699,315 |
| Phil Gordon | 4th place, $399,610 |
| Phil Hellmuth | 5th place, $303,705 |
| Mike Matusow | 6th place, $239,765 |
| Henry Nowakowski | 7th place |
| Steve Riehle | 8th place |
| John Inashima | 9th place |
Key WSOP Final Table Showdowns
Mortensen put his fearless style on display, bluffing key pots and knocking John Inashima out in 9th, followed by Steve Riehle in 8th.
Mike Matusow provided his usual fireworks. After being bluffed off a big pot by Mortensen, he shoved with pocket tens – only to run into Tomko’s pocket kings. Crippled, he pushed with 8s, only to run into Kings again, this time held my Hellmuth, busting Matusow in 6th.
Not long afterwards, Hellmuth fell short of his dream 2nd WSOP Main Event win, finishing in 5th. Phil Gordon exited in 4th after running into Mortensen’s queens, and Stan Schrier fell in 3rd.
That left just two players: the veteran Tomko against the fearless newcomer Mortensen.
Heads-Up: Tomko vs. Mortensen
The final heads-up match was the perfect duel: aggressive European young gun vs. calculated American veteran.
Mortensen had about a 2:1 chip lead and never slowed down. The decisive hand came when Tomko finally picked up pocket aces against Mortensen’s K-Q of clubs on a J-10-3 board with two clubs.
Tomko was miles ahead when the turn paired – but the river brought the nine, completing Mortensen’s straight. Just like that, the championship was over.
Tomko – always the gentleman – could only shake his head, saying afterward: “I finally got aces for the first time in five days and I went broke with them!”
Dewey Tomko’s Near-Miss
Dewey Tomko was already a legend, with three WSOP bracelets. He had even finished runner-up once before, in 1982.
The 2001 Main Event was his best chance to finally grab the big one. Tomko still took home over $1 million and further cemented his Hall of Fame career.
