World Series of Poker’s most famous runner-up wins title of his own

By Case Keefer (contact)

Wednesday, June 16, 2010 | 2:05 a.m.

Sammy Farha is at the center of the biggest "what if" question in poker history.

What if Farha called Chris Moneymaker's "bluff of the century" during heads-up play at the 2003 World Series of Poker Main Event? What if that gave Farha enough chips to win the championship and send Moneymaker, an accountant and amateur poker player, back to Memphis, Tenn., without the $2.5 million first-place prize?

Would the World Series of Poker still have grown to 10 times its previous size in five years? Certainly, no one would have used the term "the Moneymaker effect" to describe the game's rise in popularity.

"It gave the public the realization of if this guy can do it, I can do it," World Series of Poker spokesman Seth Palansky said. "That's what I think was so special about that moment. Up to that point, I think it was a game where it seemed like the pros were going to beat you every time."

Even if Farha forever is remembered for his runner-up finish, he's proven to be one of the greatest winners in the history of the World Series of Poker. Farha, who now lives in Houston, added to his legacy early Tuesday morning at the Rio by winning the $10,000 Omaha Hi-Low Split 8 or Better Championship.

Farha defeated England's James Dempsey to win $488,237 and his third World Series bracelet.

"I am not competing to win the most bracelets," Farha said. "I could win a lot more if I played, but I am happy."

Farha hasn't been the staple of the tournament-poker scene that he once was. He plays fewer tournaments and has appeared in only a couple of World Series events this summer.

"I do not like tournaments too much," said Farha, primarily a high-stakes cash game player. "It takes a lot of time."

His latest title took three days of play, including a 16-hour session to finish it off that started Monday afternoon.

Farha outlasted a fierce field. The final table alone included four players other than Farha who were former World Series champions.

"There are a lot of great players," Farha said. "The whole field is amazing. Every year, I think this is the toughest field in the entire WSOP."

The competition hasn't bothered Farha, who also won this event in 2006 for $398,460. He sat out of the event for the last three years, before deciding to play this year.

"In a way, it's like I won it two years in a row," Farha said.

Farha may never again have a chance to win poker's world title like he did in 2003. He doesn't care how things might be different had he won. Farha leaves that up to others to debate.

Palansky, for one, said he thought it didn't matter who won in 2003.

"A lot of people say it was the Moneymaker effect," he said. "But I believe it was the television effect in combination with the Internet. The game was destined to boom regardless of who won. But I can't say I'm in the majority with that belief."

Palansky noted that 2003 was the first year ESPN's World Series of Poker broadcasts featured hole-card camera technology to show the audience players' starting hands.

Whether it's a blessing or a curse, Farha's name always will be synonymous with the unprecedented growth of poker.

"When you really look back at it and try to boil it down to what made it so significant, we saw this no-name with a great name bluff one of the greatest high-stakes players in the game," Palansky said. "That was really the first great moment through the prism of television."