WSOP to relive three memorable Main Event matches

LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- A made-for-television event will allow World Series of Poker fans to relive some the tournament’s most memorable heads-up moments.

The tournament will re-stage three famous two-player Main Event finals, which will be filmed by ESPN and aired as part of its World Series of Poker coverage this summer.

The initial match will take place on June 2 at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino when Chris Moneymaker takes on Sammy Farha in a rematch of the famous 2003 World Series of Poker Main Event moment.

Moneymaker, an unknown amateur who earned his $10,000 seat in the Main Event after qualifying for $39 through an online poker tournament, defeated Farha, a veteran professional, to win $2.5 million and help start the worldwide explosion in poker.

The match is the first time Moneymaker and Farha have faced off since 2003.

“Winning the World Series of Poker Main Event was a life-altering moment,” Moneymaker said in a statement. “Even though I’m agreeing to run it again against Sammy, I have been assured they can’t take away my title if my bluffs don’t work as well this time.”

The second match will pit Johnny Chan against Phil Hellmuth. Chan was seeking his third straight Main Event title when he was beaten by a then unknown 22-year-old Hellmuth at the 1989 World Series of Poker.

Since that time, Hellmuth (11 gold individual event champion gold bracelets) and Chan (10 gold bracelets) have combined for more than $10.4 million in World Series of Poker earnings.

The World Series of Poker is asking fans to vote for the third heads-up match by becoming a fan of the event on Facebook.

Fans can choose between four matches — Chan versus Erik Seidel from the 1988 World Series of Poker; Greg Raymer versus David Williams from 2004; Jamie Gold versus Paul Wasicka from 2007; or Jonathan Duhamel versus John Racener from last year.

Moneymaker and Farha will battle in a best-of-three series, while the other two will only face off once.

ESPN will air all three rematches on July 26.