WSOP Main Event Attracts 7,319 Players

There were worries that a struggling economy might limit the size of the field at the World Series of Poker’s Main Event, but those fears have now passed. The final tally for the 2010 Main Event is 7,319 players, second only to the field of 8,773 that contested the Main Event in 2006.

Of this year’s massive field, 747 players will make the money. The first place prize will be worth $8.94 million, with a total prize pool of $68.8 million.

Some changes were made from last year’s event to improve the experience for Main Event players. The tournament playing space was expanded, and players were encouraged to play their first day on earlier available dates, with the goal of avoiding last year’s situation where up to 500 players – including some well-known professional poker players – were shut out on the popular “1D” starting day when seats were sold out with many players still in line. In general, the final “day one” is the most popular, as players do not need to wait as long to start their second day of play, saving time and money.  The Main Event was also pushed back slightly to avoid the July 4^th holiday.

According to a report from the Associated Press, World Series of Poker vice presided Ty Stewart was very pleased with the turnout, especially in the current economic climate.

"In this era, it feels like a record," he said. "I just think that the main event continues to transcend the (poker tournament) category. People are pretty obsessed these days about fame, fortune and celebrity, and that's something that's 100 percent guaranteed at the main event."

With the first day of play finished the entire field, several notable players have already seen their tournaments come to an end. Some of the more noteworthy eliminations include Mark Seif, Huck Seed, Men Nguyen, Chad Brown, Phil Gordon, John Juanda and Joe Hachem.