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 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. Tiki Arsenault was the dealer for Season 1 as Deanna Bacon was the dealer for Seasons 2 and 3 while Jessica Knight was the dealer for Season 4.

In 2004, Caleb Jackson won the first World Jack Black Championship, marking history in the world of blackjack.

Season 2 premiered weekly from January 21, 2005 to April 22, 2005 with a new co-host, Megan Riordan.

Season 3 premiered weekly from June 5, 2006 to September 4, 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 from June 4, 2007 to August 27, 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 a commentator.

Rules

The rules (as of season 4) are as follows:

Each player begins with $100,000 in chips ($10,000 in chips in Season 1). The initial minimum bet is $1,000, the maximum bet is $50,000 (minimum bet is $100, the max bet is $5,000 in Season 1). There are six decks. Each player gets one "Burger King 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 eliminated. 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, and 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 17s and higher (including soft hands). After 30 hands in Season 1, the player with the most chips wins. After 25 hands in Season 2-4, the player with the most chips wins.

Season 1 results The World Series of Blackjack Tournament was held at Mohegan Sun Casino & Resort in Connecticut. First place will win $10,000 and move on to the Final table while Second place will win $5,000 and move on to the Wild Card table. The winner of the Wild Card table will move on to the final table. First place at the final table will win $100,000 USD grand prize.

Round Winner Runner-Up Other PlayersRound 1Regina GuziorMichael KonikJames Grosjean Anthony Curtis Connie DesimoneRound 2"MIT Mike" Aponte"Hollywood" Dave StannKen Einiger Joanna "Queen of Spades" W. Susan PikorRound 3Micky RosaBobby J.Bradley Peterson Cathy Hulbert Ashwin PatelRound 4Jimmy PinePrevin MankodiStanford Wong Ann Van Dyke Nick DillonRound 5Ken SmithRichard MunchkinJane Gamble Franky DeRocco Skip SamadWild Card Round"Hollywood" Dave StannBobby J.Michael Konik Previn Mankodi Richard MunchkinFinals"MIT Mike" Aponte"Hollywood" Dave StannJimmy Pine Micky Rosa Regina Guzior Ken Smith

Mike Aponte, a former member of the MIT Blackjack Team, won the Season 1 championship and $100,000.

Season 2 results The World Series of Blackjack Tournament was held at Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The first place will move on to the Semi-Final table while the Second place will move on to the Wild Card table. The winner of the Wild Card table will move on to the Semi-Final table. The top two finishers in the Semi-Final table will move on to the final table for a chance at winning a $250,000 USD grand prize. First place at the final table will win a $250,000 USD grand prize.

Round Winner Runner-Up Other PlayersRound 1Kevin Blackwood"Hollywood" Dave StannJoe Pane Rene Angelil Katya UnderhillRound 2Leann MoellCharlene OnoKen Smith Russ Hamilton Marshall SylverRound 3Stanford WongRobert BlechmanRegina Guzior Richard Taraska Nicki VermeulenRound 4Kami LisNancy KubasekRick Blaine Michael Konik Henry TamburinWild Card Round 1Charlene Ono"Hollywood" Dave Stann Nancy Kubasek Robert BlechmanRound 6Anthony CurtisErica SchoenbergTyrone Washington Rick Swogger David PageRound 7Rick JensenKen EinigerAngie "Moneytaker" Hardy Jimmy Pine Jean ScottRound 8Viktor NachtMicky RosaChuck Gorson Joe Maloof Lorna FoxRound 9Jason GeraciMichelle Richards"MIT" Mike Aponte Eric Kiel Brian ZembicWild Card Round 2Ken EinigerMicky Rosa Erica Schoenberg Michelle RichardsSemi-FinalRick JensenKen EinigerAnthony Curtis Viktor NachtSemi-FinalStanford WongKami LisKevin Blackwood Leann MoellFinalsKen EinigerKami LisStanford Wong Rick Jensen

Ken Einiger claimed the Season 2 championship, winning $250,000.

Season 3 results The World Series of Blackjack Tournament was held at Hilton Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The first place will move on to the Semi-Final table while the Second place will move on to the Wild Card table. The winner of the Wild Card table will move on to the Semi-Final table. The top two finishers in the Semi-Final table will move on to the Final Table for a chance at winning a $500,000 USD grand prize. First place at the final table will win a $500,000 USD grand prize.

Round Winner Runner-Up Other PlayersRound 1Paul HaasTommy DyerJohn Grannis Sheila Taylor Ken EinigerRound 2Charlie MontoyaKami LisAnthony Lu Steve Bortle Darrell ArnoldRound 3Jeff BernsteinAngie "Moneytaker" HardyJamie Root David Weston Mano FuentesRound 4Henry TranRandy DriggersJennifer Ortega Ted Coustenis Tommy ConnorRound 5Tony DuongJohn PayneShawn Crowder Vicki Reed "Hollywood" Dave StannRound 6Dominick HavenKen Smith Paul Eckstein Val Hunter Elie KaramRound 7Pat Nicholas Henry FletcherMikki Padilla Frank Calderone David MatthewsRound 8"Razor" Rob Boisvert Erica SchoenbergMarshall E. Lafferty Scottie Black Randy JoyceWild Card Round 1Kami LisRandy Driggers Ken Smith Tommy Dyer Tommy Connor1 Wild Card Round 2John PayneJamie Root1 Erica Schoenberg Angie Hardy Henry FletcherSemi-Final 1Jeff Bernstein John PayneHenry Tran Paul Haas Pat NicholasSemi-Final 2Kami LisCharlie MontoyaTony Duong Dominick Haven Rob Boisvert FinalsJeff BernsteinTony Duong2John Payne Kami Lis Charlie Montoya Dr. Jeff Bernstein claimed the Season 3 championship, winning the $500,000 grand prize.

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 The World Series of Blackjack Tournament was held at Hilton Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The first place will move on to the Semi-Final table while the Second place will move on to the Wild Card table. The winner of the Wild Card table will move on to the Semi-Final table. The top two finishers in the Semi-Final table will move on to the final table for a chance at winning a $500,000 USD grand prize. First place at the final table will win a $500,000 USD grand prize.

Round Winner Runner-Up Other PlayersRound 1George MandilarasPhil DunawayTiffany Michelle Christiane Hogenbirk Jeff BernsteinRound 2 Jeff Swenson Kami Lis Lon Johnson Juan Cloud Joe Malc Round 3 Alice Walker Norm Sheridan Joe Fisher Kacie Bergeron "Hollywood" Dave Stann Round 4 Salomon Cohen-Botbol Rick Jensen Orel Hershiser Philip Richman Mikki Sullivan Round 5 Jarek Markowiak Darrell Arnold Caroline Rhea Hans Schmid Eli HaberRound 6 T. J. Boros Marlin Horseman Penn Jillette Ken Smith Helen HoRound 7 Kristine Johnson Rick Fortin Ken Einiger Don Rebentisch Joe ReitmanRound 8 Marvin Ornstein Dannye LongHenry Tran Angelo Merkouris Shannon ElizabethWild Card Round 1 Rick Fortin Darrell Arnold Henry Tran1 Dannye Long Kami LisWild Card Round 2Marlin Horseman Christianne Hogenbirk1 Rick Jensen Norm Sheridan Phil DunawaySemi-Final 1 Rick Fortin Kristine Johnson Marvin Ornstein T. J. Boros Salomon Cohen-BotbolSemi-Final 2 Alice Walker Marlin Horseman Jarek Markowiak George Mandilaras Jeff SwensonFinals Alice Walker Marlin Horseman Rick Fortin Kristine Johnson T. J. Boros2 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

See also Celebrity Blackjack World Blackjack Tour Ultimate Blackjack Tour

References AOL Blackjack WSOB Information TV.com summary Blackjack Hero summary

External links