May 22nd

Fifty- four players entered the ' 79 WSOP to stake their claim at the title of World Champion. During the first day twenty players were knocked out of the tournament. These players included former holders of the WSOP Title Doyle Brunson, "Sailor" Roberts, and Amarillo Slim. Barbara Freer, the first women to ever enter the game, also exited on the first day.

May 23rd

On the second day twenty-four players were eliminated from the game; including former WSOP champion "Puggy" Pearson. The day also saw the lost of crowd favorite Ken Smith at 7:30 pm.

May 24th

On the third day another champion fell. Bobby Baldwin at 2:45 pm. His exist was followed shortly by Sam Petrillo and then Chip Reese. The exist of Reese would leave five players in contention.

Johnny Moss would be the first of the five to leave at 7:45 PM.

Sam Moon was out at 9:25 PM

George Huber was out at 9:45 PM
This would leave Bobby Hoff and amateur Hal Fowler going head to head for the $540,000 pot. Five hours after Huber exited the pot was at $172,000 and the head to head battle was about to end.

Hoff shoved in the remainder of his $43,000.

Fowler saw the bet and called.

Fowler's hand was an inside straight beating Hoff for the title.