A Record-Breaking Year
Since its inception forty years ago, the WSOP has become the centerpiece of the poker year and the barometer of success for the industry as a whole. If this year’s numbers are as indicative in predicting poker’s future as they have been in the past, things are looking up for all us gamblers. Have a look at these truly staggering statistics and broken records from this year’s WSOP.
♠ 60,875 entrants (new record)
♠ $174,011,894 in total prize pool
♠ $1,041,265,271 in prize money awarded over the forty years of the WSOP
♠ Most million-dollar tournaments:
A whopping 39 of 57 events boasted a prize pool of $1 million or more.
♠ Largest non-Main Event field:
Event 4, the $1,000 No Limit Hold’em “Stimulus Special”, attracted 6,012 players, surpassing the 3,929 players who participated in a $1,500 No Limit Hold’em event on May 31, 2008.
♠ Most sellouts:
In addition to selling out 10 of 57 events this year, the final of four start dates for the Main Event sold out. The 2009 Main Event hosted 6,494 players and several hundred prospective players who attempted to register after capacity was reached on Day 1D would have pushed the total north of 7,000.
♠ Most gold bracelet wins in a single year:
Jeffrey Lisandro tied the mark for most wins in a single year with three. He is the fifth player to accomplish this feat.
♠ Most consecutive years to cash at WSOP:
Berry Johnston’s in-the-money finish in a gold bracelet event this year gives the 1986 World Champion cashes for 27 straight years, the most in history.
♠ Youngest final table in history:
The $5,000 No Limit Hold’em Shootout (Event 41) was the youngest final table composition in WSOP history, with player ages ranging from 21 to 24.
♠ Largest Pot Limit Omaha event:
The $1,500 buy-in Pot Limit Omaha event (Event 5) attracted 809 entrants, the largest in poker history.
♠ Largest Seniors event:
The turnout of 2,707 participants this year shattered the previous record of 2,218, set last year. The 2009 figure represents a 22 percent increase over 2008. Records were also broken for largest prize pool ($2,463,700) and biggest cash prize ever paid in a senior poker event ($437,358).
♠ Largest Seven-Card Stud Hi-Lo Split prize:
Event 37 was the richest Seven-Card Stud Hi-Lo Split prize pool in poker history at $1,541,600. It eclipsed the record set last year by more than $300,000. This was only the second million-dollar prize pool ever for any Seven-Card Stud Hi-Lo Split tournament.
