2008 WSOP Breaks Records (Without Even Including Main Event)
July 8th, 2008
Despite the challenging economic conditions currently affecting the US economy, the 39th annual World Series of Poker has continued its relentless march into the record books with a number of new milestones already in the bag.
With the 2008 WSOP Main Event still under way, the poker extravaganza that began on May 30th at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas and runs until July 14th has broken several records already, even discounting figures from the Main Event.
• Record registrations in total
Final numbers are not yet available, but the 55 events at this year’s WSOP have generated more player registrations than last year’s record of 54,288 in 2007.
• Largest total prize pool
With figures for the 2008 WSOP Main Event not yet available, the total prize pool for the 2008 WSOP has nonetheless already exceeded the previous record of $159.8 million set in 2007. Final figures will be calculated at the completion of the Main Event.
• Most countries represented
Not including Main Event participants, players from 104 different countries have competed in 2008 WSOP events - beating last year’s record of 87 countries. The final number of countries will be available following the completion of the Main Event.
• Largest non-Main Event field
3,929 players each put up $1,500 to compete in the 2008 WSOP No Limit Hold’em Event #1 that began May 31st. The event was won by Nenad Medic.
• First family to win bracelets in same series
The Hinkle brothers, from Kansas City, Missouri, became the first ever set of brothers to win bracelets in the same year. Grant won Event #2 and $831,432 while Blair won Event #23 and $507,563. The Hinkles become only the second set of brothers to win bracelets at the WSOP, joining the Pearsons brother, Puggy who won in 1973 and J.C. who won in 1994.
"This has been an incredible season and we’re not done yet," said World Series of Poker Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack. "So far, players from 56 countries, every state in the U.S. and every Canadian province have cashed at this year’s WSOP. When all is said and done, we’re going to award more prize money to more players than at any other point in our illustrious 39-year history."
The Main Event began on July 3rd and will run until July 14th when the final table is set. The nine players who advance to the final table will return to Las Vegas on November 9th to play down to just two players. The final two will then go head-to-head late in the evening of November 10th to determine the champion and winner of poker’s ultimate prize.
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