The poker world has been buzzing with excitement as the World Series of Poker Main Event has once again broken records, attracting a staggering 10,112 players. This comes on the heels of last year’s record-breaking event, which was the first to exceed 10,000 entrants. The enthusiasm for the game has been palpable as casinos reopened following the COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns, with poker rooms and tournaments around the world seeing a surge in participation.
The Main Event saw a slow start during Days 1A-1C, but Day 1D saw a massive influx of players, making it the largest-ever starting flight with 5,014 entries. This put the tournament on track to match or even surpass last year’s numbers. With registration open through the first two levels of all four Day 2 flights, there was anticipation that history could be made once again.
Day 2ABC, where three Day 2 flights were played simultaneously but separately, saw an additional 206 players register, bringing the total number of players in the 2024 WSOP Main Event to within 550 players of the 2023 record of 10,043 entrants.
It became evident that it was only a matter of time before the record would be broken, as players eagerly awaited the final tally. The anticipation reached its peak when the WSOP announced that 10,000 players had registered during Day 2D. The official announcement of the record-breaking 10,112 players came around 7:30pm Las Vegas time, with a prize pool of $94,041,600 and a $10 million first prize for the winner. The top 1,517 players will cash in, and all players at the final table will earn at least $1 million.
The significance of this record-breaking event is highlighted by the fact that the previous record, set in 2006 with 8,773 players, was surpassed by a significant margin. The 2006 WSOP Main Event had an $82.5 million prize pool and was won by Jamie Gold, who took home a then-record $12 million first prize.
The poker community is abuzz with excitement and anticipation as the WSOP Main Event continues to break records and attract players from around the world. The passion and enthusiasm for the game are evident in the overwhelming response to this year’s event, showcasing the enduring popularity and appeal of poker as a competitive and thrilling sport.