If it hadn’t been for Johnny Moss, there might not have been a World Series of Poker.

Back in the days when cheating was commonplace, Moss was one of the good guys. Which makes sense, given that Moss was hired as a teenager growing up in Odessa, Tex. to catch cheaters at a local saloon.

Two years later, Moss became a rounder, touring with the likes of “Amarillo Slim” Preston and Doyle Brunson. The rest is poker history.

Benny Binion considered Moss the greatest poker player he ever saw, and made sure he was welcome at the Horseshoe, considered the place to be for poker back in the day.

In 1949, Binion set up a five-month poker marathon between Moss and “Nick the Greek” Dandalos, another pioneer of the modern game. Down anywhere from $2 million to $4 million in cash, Dandalos uttered the famous words, “Mr. Moss, I have to let you go.” That marathon is said to be Binion’s inspiration for creating the World Series of Poker, which he did in 1970.

Moss won the first WSOP by acclaim, earning a silver cup for his troubles. But he also won the 1971 and 1974 main events, making him the first three-time winner, a feat matched only by Stu Ungar.

The “Grand Old Man” played in every WSOP from its inception through 1995, earning eight gold bracelets. Moss was also named one of the charter members of the Poker Hall of Fame in 1979. The A-10 starting hand is named in his honor.

Moss lived in Las Vegas up until his death in 1997.