World Series of Blackjack
Encyclopedia
The World Series of Blackjack is a televised blackjack
tournament
created and produced by the cable network GSN
. It is a closed tournament; players are either invited to play or can attempt to win a spot via a satellite tournament
. Rounds are edited into 1-hour episodes and broadcast on GSN. Matt Vasgersian
and Max Rubin
provided commentary for the first two seasons.
The third season began airing weekly on June 5, 2006 as part of GSN's Casino Night (retooled, with High Stakes Poker
, as Vegas Night) programming block, with new hosts John Fugelsang
and Ben Mezrich
.
Season 4 premiered on GSN on June 4, 2007. A field of 40 players, including Celebrity Blackjack
champion Caroline Rhea
, baseball star Orel Hershiser
and magician Penn Jillette
competed for a $1 million prize pool. Vasgersian returned as commentator.
Mike Aponte
, a former member of the MIT Blackjack Team
, won the Season 1 championship and $100,000.
Ken Einiger claimed the Season 2 championship, winning $250,000.
Dr. Jeff Bernstein won the $500,000 grand prize for his Season 3 victory.
1Qualified for Wild Card Round through random drawing among all 3rd-5th place preliminary finishers.
2Qualified for Final Table through random drawing among all 3rd-5th place semi-final finishers.
Alice Walker (who had previously won GSN's million-dollar Three card poker
championship) took first place and $500,000.
1Qualified for Wild Card Round through random drawing among all 3rd-5th place preliminary finishers.
2Qualified for final table through random drawing among all 3rd-5th places semi-final finishers
Blackjack
Blackjack, also known as Twenty-one or Vingt-et-un , is the most widely played casino banking game in the world...
tournament
Tournament
A tournament is a competition involving a relatively large number of competitors, all participating in a sport or game. More specifically, the term may be used in either of two overlapping senses:...
created and produced by the cable network GSN
Game Show Network
The Game Show Network is an American cable television and direct broadcast satellite channel dedicated to game shows and casino game shows. The channel was launched on December 1, 1994. Its current slogan is "The World Needs More Winners"...
. It is a closed tournament; players are either invited to play or can attempt to win a spot via a satellite tournament
Satellite tournament
A satellite tournament is either a minor tournament or event on a competitive sporting tour or one of a group of such tournaments that form a series played in the same country or region.-Poker:...
. Rounds are edited into 1-hour episodes and broadcast on GSN. Matt Vasgersian
Matt Vasgersian
Matt Vasgersian is an American sportscaster and television host. Vasgersian is a host for the MLB Network and has served as an announcer for NBC Sports' coverage of the Olympics, and on Fox Sports' MLB coverage...
and Max Rubin
Max Rubin
Max Rubin is a gambling expert and author best known for his book Comp City: A Guide to Free Gambling Vacations. The book teaches players how to maximize casino perks with little actual wagering. Rubin is also a gambling analyst for television...
provided commentary for the first two seasons.
The third season began airing weekly on June 5, 2006 as part of GSN's Casino Night (retooled, with High Stakes Poker
High Stakes Poker
High Stakes Poker is a cash game poker television program broadcast by the cable television network GSN in the United States. The poker variant played on the show is no limit Texas hold 'em. It premiered on January 16, 2006 and ended on December 17, 2007 and it returns back on March 1, 2009 and is...
, as Vegas Night) programming block, with new hosts John Fugelsang
John Fugelsang
John Fugelsang is an American actor, television personality and stand-up comedian.-Stage and screen:...
and Ben Mezrich
Ben Mezrich
Ben Mezrich is an American author from Princeton, New Jersey. He graduated magna-cum-laude with a degree in Social Studies from Harvard University in 1991. Some of his books have been written under the pseudonym Holden Scott. Mezrich attended Princeton Day School, in Princeton, New Jersey...
.
Season 4 premiered on GSN on June 4, 2007. A field of 40 players, including Celebrity Blackjack
Celebrity Blackjack
Celebrity Blackjack was a television show on GSN where celebrities played tournament style blackjack for charity. The show was hosted by Matt Vasgersian . Dave Stann was the dealer. Season 1 aired weekly from July 5 through August 9, 2004...
champion Caroline Rhea
Caroline Rhea
Caroline Gilchrist Rhea is a Canadian stand-up comedian and actress who was the original host of the reality television show The Biggest Loser on NBC until she was replaced by Alison Sweeney after the end of the third season...
, baseball star Orel Hershiser
Orel Hershiser
Orel Leonard Hershiser IV is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. He is currently an analyst for Baseball Tonight and Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN and a professional poker player for...
and magician Penn Jillette
Penn Jillette
Penn Fraser Jillette is an American magician, comedian, illusionist, juggler, bassist and a best-selling author known for his work with fellow illusionist Teller in the team Penn & Teller, and advocacy of atheism, libertarian philosophy, free-market economics, and scientific skepticism.-Early...
competed for a $1 million prize pool. Vasgersian returned as commentator.
Rules
The rules (as of season 4) are as follows:- Each player begins with $100,000 in chips.
- The initial minimum bet is $1,000, the maximum bet is $50,000.
- There are six decks.
- Each player gets one "Burger KingBurger KingBurger King, often abbreviated as BK, is a global chain of hamburger fast food restaurants headquartered in unincorporated Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States. The company began in 1953 as Insta-Burger King, a Jacksonville, Florida-based restaurant chain...
Power Chip" per round, which allows a player to switch one card with the next card in the shoe. If used on a double-down hand, the player may look at the double-down card and replace it if desired. The power chip was added as of season three. - There are two "knockout cards" in the shoe. Once a knockout card is drawn, the player with the lowest amount of chips after the next hand is elminated. After the first knockout card, the minimum bet increases to $2,500, after the second, the bet increases to $5,000. The deck is shuffled after each knockout card. If there are only four players when the first is drawn and three when the second is drawn, no players are eliminated, but the minimum bet still increases. The knockout cards also appeared first in season three.
- Players can split, double-down & insure for less than their bet.
- Players can double-down on anything.
- Surrendering the hand is legal, which allows players to give up half their bet and concede the hand.
- If a player can't make the minimum bet, they are eliminated.
- Blackjack pays 3 to 2, dealer must stand on all soft 17s and higher.
- After 25 hands, the player with the most chips wins.
Season 1 results
| Round | Winner | Runner-Up | Other Players |
|---|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | Regina Guzior | Michael Konik Michael Konik Michael Konik is an American author, television personality, jazz singer, improvisational comedian, blackjack player and poker player. Konik has a degree in Drama from New York University.Konik currently resides in Hollywood, California.-Writing:... |
|
| Round 2 | "MIT Mike" Aponte Mike Aponte Mike Aponte also known as MIT Mike is a professional blackjack player and a former member of the MIT Blackjack Team. Aponte was one of the leaders of a team of MIT students that legally won millions at blackjack tables around the world by counting cards. He is one of the main characters, "Jason... |
"Hollywood" Dave Stann |
|
| Round 3 | Micky Rosa | Bobby J. |
|
| Round 4 | Jimmy Pine | Previn Mankodi |
Stanford Wong Stanford Wong is the pen name of John Ferguson, a gambling author who is best known for his book Professional Blackjack, which was first published in 1975 and is still in print. Wong's computer program "Blackjack Analyzer", initially created for personal use, was one of the first pieces of... |
| Round 5 | Ken Smith | Richard Munchkin |
|
| Wild Card Round | "Hollywood" Dave Stann | Bobby J. |
|
| Finals | Mike Aponte | "Hollywood" Dave Stann |
|
Mike Aponte
Mike Aponte
Mike Aponte also known as MIT Mike is a professional blackjack player and a former member of the MIT Blackjack Team. Aponte was one of the leaders of a team of MIT students that legally won millions at blackjack tables around the world by counting cards. He is one of the main characters, "Jason...
, a former member of the MIT Blackjack Team
MIT Blackjack Team
The MIT Blackjack Team was a group of students and ex-students from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard Business School, Harvard University, and other leading colleges who used card-counting techniques and more sophisticated strategies to beat casinos at blackjack worldwide...
, won the Season 1 championship and $100,000.
Season 2 results
| Round | Winner | Runner-Up | Other Players |
|---|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | Kevin Blackwood Kevin Blackwood Kevin Blackwood is a professional blackjack player, card counter and gambling author. He is best known for his novel, The Counter, and his instructional book, Play Blackjack Like the Pros.... |
"Hollywood" Dave Stann |
|
| Round 2 | Leann Moell | Charlene Ono |
Russ Hamilton Russ Hamilton was the 1994 World Series of Poker main event champion. He defeated Hugh Vincent in heads-up play to win $1 million in first-prize money, as well as his body weight in silver. Following his World Series win, Hamilton served as a consultant for Ultimate Bet, an online poker server... Marshall Sylver Marshall Sylver, born Marshall Walter Sylwestrzak, is a motivational speaker, author, and performance hypnotist who works primarily in Las Vegas, Nevada... |
| Round 3 | Stanford Wong Stanford Wong Stanford Wong is the pen name of John Ferguson, a gambling author who is best known for his book Professional Blackjack, which was first published in 1975 and is still in print. Wong's computer program "Blackjack Analyzer", initially created for personal use, was one of the first pieces of... |
Robert Blechman |
|
| Round 4 | Kami Lis | Nancy Kubasek |
Henry Tamburin Henry Tamburin is a gambling author with a background in mathematics and a doctorate in chemistry. He is best known for his book Blackjack: Take the Money and Run which explains basic blackjack strategy, managing a bankroll, side bets and advanced tactics like card counting.Tamburin is also well... |
| Wild Card Round 1 | Charlene Ono |
|
|
| Round 6 | Anthony Curtis | Erica Schoenberg Erica Schoenberg Erica Schoenberg is an American professional blackjack and poker player. She is a former model, personal trainer, and professional volleyball player. Schoenberg received professional blackjack training from a member of the MIT Blackjack Team... |
|
| Round 7 | Rick Jensen | Ken Einiger |
|
| Round 8 | Viktor Nacht | Micky Rosa |
|
| Round 9 | Jason Geraci | Michelle Richards |
Brian Zembic Brian Zembic, nicknamed the Wiz, was born , is a magician and high-stakes gambler specializing in blackjack and backgammon. In the late 90s he became famed as a man who would do anything to win a bet. His most famous wager was in 1996 when he agreed to receive breast implants and keep them for one... |
| Wild Card Round 2 | Ken Einiger |
|
|
| Semi-Final | Rick Jensen | Ken Einiger |
|
| Semi-Final | Stanford Wong | Kami Lis |
|
| Finals | Ken Einiger | Kami Lis |
|
Ken Einiger claimed the Season 2 championship, winning $250,000.
Season 3 results
| Round | Winner | Runner-Up | Other Players |
|---|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | Paul Haas | Tommy Dyer |
|
| Round 2 | Charlie Montoya | Kami Lis |
|
| Round 3 | Jeff Bernstein | Angie "Moneytaker" Hardy |
|
| Round 4 | Henry Tran | Randy Driggers |
|
| Round 5 | Tony Duong | John Payne |
|
| Round 6 | Dominick Haven | Ken Smith |
|
| Round 7 | Pat Nicholas | Henry Fletcher |
David Matthews (blackjack player) David Matthews is an American professional blackjack player and writer. He has competed in the World Series of Blackjack and is the winner of the first season of the CBS elimination blackjack tournament series Ultimate Blackjack Tour... |
| Round 8 | "Razor" Rob Boisvert | Erica Schoenberg |
|
| Wild Card Round 1 | Kami Lis |
|
|
| Wild Card Round 2 | John Payne |
|
|
| Semi-Final 1 | Jeff Bernstein | John Payne |
|
| Semi-Final 2 | Kami Lis | Charlie Montoya |
|
| Finals | Jeff Bernstein | Tony Duong2 |
|
Dr. Jeff Bernstein won the $500,000 grand prize for his Season 3 victory.
1Qualified for Wild Card Round through random drawing among all 3rd-5th place preliminary finishers.
2Qualified for Final Table through random drawing among all 3rd-5th place semi-final finishers.
Season 4 results
| Round | Winner | Runner-Up | Other Players |
|---|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | George Mandilaras | Phil Dunaway |
|
| Round 2 | Jeff Swenson | Kami Lis |
|
| Round 3 | Alice Walker | Norm Sheridan |
|
| Round 4 | Salomon Cohen-Botbol | Rick Jensen |
Orel Hershiser Orel Leonard Hershiser IV is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. He is currently an analyst for Baseball Tonight and Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN and a professional poker player for... |
| Round 5 | Jarek Markowiak | Darrell Arnold |
Caroline Rhea Caroline Gilchrist Rhea is a Canadian stand-up comedian and actress who was the original host of the reality television show The Biggest Loser on NBC until she was replaced by Alison Sweeney after the end of the third season... |
| Round 6 | T. J. Boros | Marlin Horseman |
Penn Jillette Penn Fraser Jillette is an American magician, comedian, illusionist, juggler, bassist and a best-selling author known for his work with fellow illusionist Teller in the team Penn & Teller, and advocacy of atheism, libertarian philosophy, free-market economics, and scientific skepticism.-Early... |
| Round 7 | Kristine Johnson | Rick Fortin |
|
| Round 8 | Marvin Ornstein | Dannye Long |
Shannon Elizabeth Shannon Elizabeth is an American actress and former fashion model. Elizabeth is well known for her roles in comedy films such as Scary Movie, American Pie, and Jay And Silent Bob Strike Back. She is also well known for her work in horror films such as Thirteen Ghosts, Cursed, and Night of the Demons... |
| Wild Card Round 1 | Rick Fortin |
|
|
| Wild Card Round 2 | Marlin Horseman |
|
|
| Semi-Final 1 | Rick Fortin | Kristine Johnson |
|
| Semi-Final 2 | Alice Walker | Marlin Horseman |
|
| Finals | Alice Walker | Marlin Horseman |
|
Alice Walker (who had previously won GSN's million-dollar Three card poker
Three card poker
Poker played with three cards dates back to the origins of the game of poker. As a result it's as unclear as the origins of poker, but includes the 16th century British card game of Brag. Rules for three card poker are included in Hoyle's Rules of Games from 1983 along with a hi-low...
championship) took first place and $500,000.
1Qualified for Wild Card Round through random drawing among all 3rd-5th place preliminary finishers.
2Qualified for final table through random drawing among all 3rd-5th places semi-final finishers