Our Verdict:
Hal Fowler is generally considered one of the most undeserving Main Event Champions of all-time by poker connoisseurs. A self-confessed amateur, T.J.Cloutier noted that ‘Hal played any 2 cards’ which is amply demonstrated in the hand which won him the 1979 Championship and $270,000 first prize.
Heads-up with the legendary Bobby Hoff, Fowler called a pre-flop raise in the big blind with 76 offsuit. A flop of J35 rainbow saw Hoff commit half his chips to the pot, which Fowler called. A 4 on the turn to filled his gutshot to bust the Texans AA and clinch the title. Of course back in those days, calling a pre-flop raise from a Texan with trash like 76 was considered highly unorthodox to be polite.
He never won another major No Limit Hold’Em title and problems with diabetes forced him off the poker circuit by the mid-80’s.
Poker Verdict’s Hugo Martin disagrees with the Hal Fowler argument, adding: “Not to take anything away from the wizard but I think Hoff misplayed it (the final hand) and should have gone all-in on the flop. With what we know about tournament play now, Fowler was probably making some optimum plays based on odds and he called with a gutshot on the final hand because he could end the tournament right there.”
Whichever side you take, for a 40-1 shot to defeat Bobby Hoff and Bobby Baldwin on the final table is a feat not many in the game can match.