| Competition: | 1981 World Series of Poker |
| Location: | Binion's Horseshoe, Las Vegas, Nevada |
| Dates: | May 7 – May 24 |
| Champion: |  Stu Ungar |
| Prev: | 1980 |
| Next: | 1982 |
The 1981 World Series of Poker (WSOP) was a series of poker tournaments held at Binion's Horseshoe in May 1981.[1]
There were 12 preliminary events at the 1981 WSOP. Johnny Moss became the first player in WSOP history to reach eight career bracelets.
| Date | Event | Entries | Winner | Prize | Runner-up | Results | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | May 7, 1981 | $1,000 Draw High | 36 | Ed Barmach (1/1) | $18,000 | Jackie Mills | Results | |
| 2 | May 8, 1981 | $600 Mixed Doubles | 52 | Frank Cardone (1/1) & Juanda Matthews (1/1) | $7,800 | Frank Geraci & Katie Ulanski | Results | |
| 3 | May 9, 1981 | $1,500 No Limit Hold'em | 128 | Fred David (1/1) | $96,000 | Doug Johnson | Results | |
| 4 | May 10, 1981 | $1,000 Seven-card stud | 104 | Sid Gamerman (1/1) | $52,000 | Mark Speert | Results | |
| 5 | May 11, 1981 | $400 Ladies' Seven-card stud | 88 | Ruth Godfrey (1/1) | $17,600 | Jackie Jean | Results | |
| 6 | May 12, 1981 | $1,000 Razz | 69 | Bruce Hershenson (1/1) | $34,500 | Bob Ross | Results | |
| 7 | May 13, 1981 | $1,000 Seven-card stud split | 67 | Johnny Moss (1/8) | $33,500 | Ralph Bidwell | Results | |
| 8 | May 14, 1981 | $5,000 Seven-card stud | 27 | A. J. Myers (1/2) | $67,500 | Eric Drache | Results | |
| 9 | May 15, 1981 | $2,500 Ace to Five Draw | 37 | Mickey Perry (1/1) | $46,250 | Jack Straus (0/1) | Results | |
| 10 | May 16, 1981 | $1,000 No Limit Hold'em | 162 | Dody Roach (1/1) | $81,000 | Unknown | Results | |
| 11 | May 17, 1981 | $1,000 Ace to Five Draw | 88 | Glen Rodgers (1/1) | $44,000 | Rick Morella | Results | |
| 12 | May 18, 1981 | $10,000 Deuce to Seven Draw | 19 | Stu Ungar (1/2) | $95,000 | Bobby Baldwin (0/4) | Results | |
| 13 | May 19, 1981 | $10,000 No Limit Hold'em Main Event | 75 | Stu Ungar (2/3) | $375,000 | Perry Green (0/1) | Results |
There were 75 entrants to the main event. Each paid $10,000 to enter the tournament.[2] This main event was notable as the first one to have all final table players to receive a share of the prize pool, with the top 9 players finishing in the money.[3] The 1981 Main Event was Stu Ungar's second consecutive World Championship.[4] [5]
| Place | Name | Prize | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Stu Ungar | $375,000 | |
| 2nd | Perry Green | $150,000 | |
| 3rd | Gene Fisher | $75,000 | |
| 4th | Ken Smith | $37,500 | |
| 5th | Bill Smith | $37,500 | |
| 6th | Jay Heimowitz | $30,000 | |
| 7th | Bobby Baldwin | $15,000 | |
| 8th | Sam Petrillo | $15,000 | |
| 9th | Sam Moon | $15,000 |