The first PLO gold bracelet winner talks about his 1984 WSOP title: "That means nothing to me."

Bill Bennett, the first PLO gold bracelet winner, returned to the WSOP at the age of 88 and reminisced about his 1984 championship. He admitted that the gold bracelet "had no fucking meaning" back then and that he had given it to his mother.

The first Pot-Limit Omaha (PLO) gold bracelet event in the history of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) was held in 1984, and was won by Bill Bennett, who was 46 years old at the time.

Forty-two years later, Bennett returned to the WSOP—now 88 years old—and cashed in the $1,000 Senior Event, finishing 441st to earn $2,001. This was his first WSOP cash since 2018, when he reached the final table in the $1,000 Senior Championship, finishing fifth to earn $170,944.

What do the gold bracelet winners remember about the 1984 champion?

PokerNews took Bennett out during a break after Tuesday's jackpot bubble burst to hear his recollection of winning the $1,000 Pot Limit Omaha event more than 40 years ago.

“I don’t remember much,” he replied. “I’ve played too much, I mean, I’ve spent my whole life playing poker. I retired at 50, and now I’m 88.”

Bennett knew he was playing his first PLO bracelet event, but he knew almost nothing about the game. He was just starting out, yet he still managed to stand out from a field of 108 players—most of whom were professionals, with a star-studded final table including future Poker Hall of Famers Mike Sexton and Tom McEvoy, as well as legendary poker writer and pro David Sklansky.

This champion, who still competes frequently, didn't care much for that gold bracelet back then. The WSOP was still in its infancy at the time, and the $84,000 prize money he won was more important to him. Bennett said he gave the bracelet to his mother years ago and now doesn't know where it is.

"That means nothing to me," he admitted about the gold bracelet he won in 1984.

That gold bracelet, wherever it is, should fetch a good price at an eBay auction, given that it's the first-ever PLO gold bracelet. Bennett, now a Washington state resident, started coming to Las Vegas in boot camp in 1955. When he participated in PLO tournaments, he was "just playing around and having fun," with no concept of the importance of the World Series of Poker or the skill level of his final table opponents.

Bennett's victory came just three days after he finished fourth in $1,000 Limit Texas Hold'em ($11,700).

Pot-Limit Omaha has seen tremendous growth since Bennett won the gold bracelet. The $1,000 PLO event is currently on its second day with 3,733 entries, and the winner will receive $390,300 – roughly double the prize money Bennett won in 1984, adjusted for inflation.

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