World Series of Poker -- Main Event Field Second Largest Ever

This has been a promising year for World Series of Poker attendance. Nine of the 17 largest live poker tournaments in history were hosted at the Rio this summer in Las Vegas, including the main event, which announced its official attendance numbers and prize pool today.

The field size stands at 7,319 players. This makes it the second largest live poker tournament of all time behind the 2006 main event, which attracted 8,773 players during the halcyon days of the poker boom. The total prize pool for the main event is $68,798,600 and the first-place prize is $8,944,138.

Day 1D was once again the largest of the four starting days, but the 2010 main event was much more balanced with its entries. Here’s a breakdown of this year’s attendance and how it compares to 2009:

Here’s a look at the full final-table payouts:

In a year that was marked by declining tournament attendance prior to the summer, the WSOP reversed the trend, with a record 72,966 entries in 57 events, creating the largest prize pool in WSOP history at $187,109,850.

The new all-time high in entrants increased by 20 percent over the previous record of 60,875 set last year, and the amount of events offered in 2010 was identical to last year, 57. This year’s record prize pool eclipsed the previous high of $180,774,427 (2008) by 3.5 percent. The WSOP has now awarded $1,228,375,121 during 41 years.

The WSOP also continued to feature a strong international presence in 2010, attracting players from more than 100 nations and territories. The 117 countries represented this year is up from 115 countries last year.

“By every measure, this was the most successful World Series of Poker in the event’s illustrious 41-year history,” said World Series of Poker Vice President Ty Stewart. “From the lowest buy-in events to the highest, we saw enormous player demand translate into lengthy registration lists and massive prize pools. As the WSOP main event progresses, we’re looking forward to creating several new multi-millionaires.”

NOTE: WSOP stats and records courtesy of Harrah’s media staff:

Top 2010 WSOP Stats (by Tournament Attendance):

Event #57 – 7,319 entrants – second-largest (only the 2006 main event was larger)
Event #3 – 4,345 entrants – eighth-largest
Event #54 – 3,844 entrants – tenth-largest
Event #24 – 3,289 entrants – eleventh-largest
Event #34 – 3,142 entrants – thirteenth-largest
Event #47 – 3,128 entrants – fourteenth-largest
Event #36 – 3,102 entrants – fifteenth-largest
Event #45 – 3,097 entrants – sixteenth-largest
Event #13 – 3,042 entrants – seventeenth-largest
Other 2010 WSOP Records:

Most million-dollar tournaments: Forty-four of 57 events in this year’s WSOP boasted a prize pool of $1 million or more, up 13 percent from the previous record (39 of 57 tournaments) set last year.

Largest Seniors event in history: Event No. 34 attracted 3,142 players, eclipsing by 16 percent the previous record of 2,707 set last year. Year-over-year event prize money was up nearly 15 percent from last year, jumping from $2,463,700 to $2,827,800.

Oldest player to participate: Jack Ury, 97 years old. Ury, who was born in March of 1913, continues to break his own record each year he participates in the main event.

Most consecutive years to cash at WSOP: Berry Johnston’s two in-the-money finishes this year (Events No. 4 and No. 45) give the 1986 world champion cashes for 28 straight years, the most in history. His two cashes this year give him a total of 61 in-the-money finishes at the WSOP, placing him in fourth place all-time.

Largest live Pot-Limit Omaha tournament in history: Event No. 20 attracted 885 entries. The previous mark, set during Event No. 5 of the 2009 WSOP, was 809 entrants. The new record represents an increase of more than 9 percent.

Most consecutive years with multiple-event winner: Frank Kassela’s two victories stretched the multi-event winner record to 11 consecutive years.

Biggest single day attendance ever: 3,097 players in Event No. 45.

Most consecutive annual WSOP’s played: Howard “Tahoe” Andrew of Walnut Creek, Calif., extended his record for most consecutive years played at the WSOP to 37.

Largest amount of chips in play: This year’s WSOP main event featured a total of 219,570,000 million in chips. Because players in this year’s WSOP main event received chips valued at three times the buy-in (30,000), the total chips in play exceeded the amount in the largest tournament ever, the 2006 main event, during which players received two-times the buy-in (20,000).

Most cashes at WSOP without a win: Tony Cousineau of Daytona Beach, Fla., extended his record as the player with the most cashes (46) without a win.

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