In 1979, an unknown poker player from California named Hal Fowler seemed hopelessly overmatched in experience and skill as the final day of play at the World Series of Poker began. Fowler received a fortuitous string of favor at several critical stages of the tournament that left the poker elite shaking their heads in stunned disbelief. Time after time, Fowler hit inside straights, made second pairs, and completed flushes until he finally eliminated his last opponent. Fowler won the world championship and remains the only amateur player ever to win poker’s most coveted title.
