Bodog Beat

Harrah's and the WSOP announced today that the trophy given to the winner of the $50k HORSE event will be named the Chip Reese trophy. (Bodog Beat Image)

In a move that was most likely spurred by suggestions made in poker forums and the subsequent debates, Harrah's and the WSOP have decided to name the trophy awarded to the winner of the $50,000 HORSE event after poker legend Chip Reese, who passed away last week.

As we reported, one of the original ideas posited on forums was to name the entire tournament after him. However, this idea received push-back from some who pointed out that no other WSOP tournament is named after a person and doing so would interrupt the traditional taxonomy of the WSOP events; i.e. Event #54 – $10,000 No Limit Hold'em World Championship, etc…  (an odd argument, but whatever).

So, as a compromise, another forum poster suggested naming the trophy after Reese, which was met with general approval. So much so that it seems that the WSOP caught on and liked the idea so much that they decided to implement it. Here is the statement from the release:

“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 Jeffrey Pollack, Commissioner of the World Series of Poker.  “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.

“As a tribute to this great player who embodied the very best of our game, next year’s $50,000 HORSE World Championship will be played in Chip’s honor and memory,” Pollack said. “And the winner will receive the ‘David “Chip” Reese Award,’ as well as a WSOP bracelet, to commemorate their achievement.”

For what it's worth, this idea has our full endorsement. We like it a lot. This will serve as a fitting memory for a player who helped create the game we know and love today.