The Grand Slam of Poker
The term Grand Slam first made its appearance in the 1930s after golfer Bobby Jones won the four major events of the year. It was a introduced in the tennis world by a New York Times columnist in 1933 after one player won the first three majors of the year and was going for the Grand Slam in trying to win his fourth. While it would be nearly impossible for any single player to win the newly deemed Grand Slam of Poker in a year, it certainly would make for an absolutely legendary lifetime achievement.
About a year ago, Gavin Griffin won a WPT event and cemented the first Triple Crown in poker where a player won a WPT, WSOP, and EPT event. But what makes the Grand Slam so difficult is that not only do you need to win one of each the above, but it needs to be “the big one” of each, plus a fourth event not associated with any of the tours but still a major event on the circuit none the less. As with anything, this list will surely be debated to death by the poker world, but at least in this publication’s eyes, the legendary accomplishment would include:
1. AUSSIE MILLIONS
Taking place at the beginning of every year in January, the Aussie Millions attracts the best of the best from around the world with the tournament prize pool swelling to the $7 million dollar range. The first-place prize this past year was $2 million. It’s safe to say that Melbourne is the place to be in January with the Aussie Tennis Open happening simultaneously. If you were to ask a random poker pro which major events they want to win in their lifetime, this is certainly in the response of a majority of players.
• Recent Champions: Lee Nelson (’06), Gus Hansen (’07), Alexander Kostritsyn (’08), Stewart Scott (’09)
2. WPT CHAMPIONSHIP
While WPT entrants and prize pool numbers are down, this is certainly still one of the most prestigious events of the year. With its $25,000 buy-in – one of the highest on the circuit – it draws an incredibly solid field. The structure is designed for deep-stacked, skilled play and perfect for determining a very skilled champion. Since season one, the first place prize has ballooned from about $1 million to as much as nearly $4 million when Carlos Mortenson won it in 2007.<–>
• Past Champions: Alan Goehring (’03), Martin De Knijff (’04), Tuan Le (’05), Joe Bartholdi (’06), Carlos Mortenson (’07), David Chiu (’08), Yevgeniy Timoshenko (’09)
3. POKERSTARSEPT GRAND FINAL
The €10,000 buy-in Main Event has grown once again in its fifth installment this year, proving to be one of the most prestigious tournaments in the world and awarding a first prize of €2,300,000. A location in one of the world’s gambling capitals sets the stage for this Grand Slam stop, which attracts the best of the best with its great atmosphere, great structure, and constantly growing prize pool. Pros that don’t play a lot of tournaments overseas always make room for Monte Carlo, as it’s become a can’t-miss stop on the circuit.
• Past Champions: Rob Hollink (’04), Jeff Williams (’05), Gavin Griffi n (’06), Glen Chorny (’08), Pieter de Korver (’09)
4. WSOP MAIN EVENT
Obviously, no Grand Slam could be complete without the biggest tournament of all. Nowadays, it’s by far the toughest to win with the fi eld size swelling to well over 5,000 entrants. Last year’s champion Peter Eastgate brought home $9 million for his efforts. There is usually one big name pro at the final table each year and if one of them could snap off a victory it would certainly be a feat of gigantic proportions.
• Recent Champions: Chris Moneymaker (’03), Greg Raymer (’04), Joe Hachem (’05), Jamie Gold (’06), Jerry Yang (’07), Peter Eastgate (’08)
FRONT RUNNER?
The only player who has even come close to completing Poker’s Grand Slam at this point is Carlos Mortenson, who won the Main Event in 2001 and the WPT Championship in 2007, arguably the toughest two legs of the feat. Gus Hansen came close to a WPT Championship and has made deep runs in the WSOP Main Event, but is still only one for four. If someone does complete the Grand Slam in his lifetime, it would be without a doubt the most amazing feat in the history of poker, hands down.
