The 2004 World Series of Poker

Everyone is still buzzing about the number of entrants (2,576) in the World Series of Poker $10,000 buy-in championship event. That is an amazing number. I keep thinking of the price I could have gotten a few years ago had I bet there would be more than 2,500 players in that event in 2004. I might have made more than the $5 million that Greg "Fossilman" Raymer made by capturing the title! Kudos to Greg for his magnificent play and for carving his way into poker history.

Obviously, the growth seen in the 2004 championship event (more than triple last year's attendance) is the result of a few things: first and foremost, the exposure of big-time poker on television. The credit for that must go to the World Poker Tour on the Travel Channel. The WPT is the reason poker has been accepted and watched by mainstream America.

ESPN's expanded coverage of last year's event was done only because of the success (that is, ratings) of the WPT. Remember, for years, the WSOP was shown on ESPN months after it concluded at 3 a.m. and without anyone knowing it was being televised. The people at ESPN finally saw the light – which was turned on by the WPT.

The second thing contributing to the growth of the WSOP is the expansion of satellites – primarily online satellites. Word has it that 912 players won their seats in the championship event online, which is more players than ever entered the event before.

And more players bought in or tried to win their way in via brick-and-mortar casino satellites, especially those held at the Horseshoe. (And hats off to those responsible for putting in the $1,000 buy-in supersatellites. That was an idea that stemmed from Bellagio's success in doing them for the 2004 WPT Championship. Players love them.)

Finally, it's fortunate for everybody in the poker community that a guy named Moneymaker invested $40 in an online tournament to win his seat in the 2003 WSOP and then went on to win the title and $2.5 million. He provided the dream and inspiration for everyone that "it can be done." On behalf of the poker industry, allow me to thank Chris Moneymaker for a wonderful reign as champion.

The question that everyone is now asking is, "How many players will be in next year's event?" I've heard numbers ranging from 5,000 to 12,000. Not so fast, my friends – the number may not be as large as you think.

Online sites qualify players for the WSOP primarily for PR reasons. However, with the decision that players cannot wear any logos at the final table, the value of qualifying players on a site diminishes greatly.

Perhaps the most amazing accomplishment at the WSOP the last two years is something I don't hear anyone talking about – and that's the fact that Dan Harrington made it to the final table both years, finishing third in 2003 (winning $650,000) and fourth in 2004 (for $1.5 million)! And it's the fourth time he's made it to the final table in the WSOP championship event, which he won in 1995. Talk about a moneymaker, Harrington's won more than $3 million in the championship event in the last 10 years!

Harrington is known as "Action Dan" in the poker world. I propose we change that name to "Dan the Man" Harrington.

Take care.

Mike Sexton is the host of PartyPoker.com and a commentator on the World Poker Tour, which can be seen every Wednesday night on the Travel Channel.