World Series of Poker Introduces "David 'Chip' Reese Award"

When people lose someone they care about, they often want to honor them in some way so that their memory will live on.  Some people establish scholarship funds in the person’s name.  Others plant a tree.  Others even name children after the loved one.  The World Series of Poker announced Wednesday that starting in 2008, along with the coveted gold bracelet, the winner of the $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. event will receive the “David ‘Chip’ Reese Award,” named after the poker luminary who passed away last week at the age of fifty-six.

The tournament choice is appropriate, seeing as Reese not only won the inaugural event in 2006, but was also considered by his peers to be the greatest all-around poker player in the world.  He was not extraordinarily well-known by the general poker public, as he did not make many appearances in televised tournaments, instead opting for the more lucrative and less time consuming high stakes cash games.  He only played in two events at the 2006 World Series – the $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. event and the $10,000 Main Event. 

“A true gentleman and the youngest person admitted to the Poker Hall of Fame, Chip Reese was recognized by his peers as the most successful player in the biggest mixed cash games of all time,” said WSOP Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack.  “But he was also a great tournament player with three WSOP bracelets, including one for his historic victory in the inaugural $50,000 buy-in HORSE tournament in 2006.”