- The 2025 WSOP Main Event drew 9,735 players, making it the third-largest in history.
- The $90.5 million prize pool will award $10 million to the winner and $6 million to the runner-up.
- Participation declined nearly 4% from 2024, missing the 10,000-entry mark.
- Despite the drop, no other poker event matches its scale or payout.
No, it is not the third consecutive time. While most events at this year’s World Series of Poker have seen improved numbers compared to last year, the WSOP 2025 Main Event could not quite clear the same hurdle.
Now that late registration has closed, officially ending on Day 2D, we have the final figures. And although the 2025 Main Event did not match the record-breaking turnouts of the past two years, it still ended up as the third-largest Main Event in WSOP history.
In total, exactly 9,735 players bought into the prestigious $10,000 buy-in tournament, generating a staggering $90,535,500 prize pool, an astronomical figure by any standard, not just in poker but across industries. Of these 9,735 entrants, 1,461 players, representing the top 15% of the field, will take home at least $15,000.
WSOP 2025 Main Event Stats:
- Players participated: 9,735
- Prize Pool Generated: $90,535,500
- Total Fees Collected: $6,814,500
- Places Paid: 1,461 players (15%)
- First-Place Prize: $10 Million
- Min-Cash: $15,000
The eventual champion of the 2025 WSOP Main Event will walk away with a life-changing $10 million, while the runner-up is set to receive $6 million. Every player who reaches the final table is guaranteed to earn a minimum of $1 million.
The first two of the four Day 1 flights outperformed last year. Day 1A attracted 923 players, up from 915 in 2024. Day 1B saw a big increase with 1,096 players compared to last year’s 831. However, Day 1C, which took place on July 4th, drew only 1,678 players, a significant drop from the 2,528 who played that flight last year.
Day 1D brought in 4,997 participants, slightly fewer than the 5,014 seen in 2024. By this point, the cumulative number stood at 8,694 entries, meaning the tournament needed over 1,400 additional entries on Day 2 to reach the 10,000 mark, something that looked highly unlikely. In the end, Day 2 flights added 1,041 players.
As a result, this year’s Main Event fell short of the previous two years: 2023 had 10,043 entries, breaking a 17-year-old record, and 2024 topped that with 10,112 players. This year’s turnout marks a modest decline of nearly 4%.
WSOP 2025 Main Event Turnout Breakdown
| Day/Flight | Players | Prize Pool |
|---|---|---|
| 1A | 923 | $8,583,900 |
| 1B | 1,096 | $10,192,800 |
| 1C | 1,678 | $15,605,400 |
| 1D | 4,997 | $46,472,100 |
| 2ABC | 265 | $2,464,500 |
| 2D | 776 | $7,216,800 |
| Total | 9,735 | $90,535,500 |
Leading up to the series, there were concerns that overall attendance could decline, especially among international players, with Canadians expected to be among the most affected. This apprehension stemmed from rising political tensions, including President Trump’s aggressive tariff measures and pointed statements toward Canada.
However, once the series got underway, those concerns seemed unfounded. Week after week, the 2025 WSOP consistently outperformed the prior year. By the end of the fourth week, it genuinely looked like the Main Event might break the record again. But there was a caveat.
While most tournaments did better than last year, it was largely due to increased Day 1 flights, more re-entries, and fewer freezeouts, all of which naturally inflate entry numbers and prize pools. In contrast, high-stakes events and true freezeouts experienced slight declines. The reality is that unique entries are down this year, and nowhere is that more evident than in the Main Event.
The perception that this year’s Main Event is a letdown is only because the bar was raised so high by the previous two editions, each attracting over 10,000 players. Anything less than five digits now feels like a drop, but the truth is that 9,735 entries is still an extraordinary number. In fact, this is only the third time in the history of the tournament that entries have crossed the 9,000 mark. No other poker tournament in the world comes even remotely close to this scale.
Just consider the $90 million prize pool, it is virtually unheard of outside the WSOP and a few elite high-roller events. The tournament is set to crown at least nine new millionaires, including the champion who will take home a breathtaking $10 million.
WSOP Main Event Top Ten Largest Prize Pools
| Year | Prize Pool | First-Place Prize | Entrants |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $94,041,600 | $10,000,000 | 10,112 |
| 2023 | $93,399,900 | $12,100,000 | 10,043 |
| 2025 | $90,535,500 | $10,000,000 | 9,735 |
| 2006 | $82,512,162 | $12,000,000 | 8773 |
| 2022 | $80,782,475 | $10,000,000 | 8663 |
| 2019 | $80,548,600 | $10,000,000 | 8569 |
| 2018 | $74,015,600 | $8,800,000 | 7874 |
| 2010 | $68,799,059 | $8,944,310 | 7319 |
| 2017 | $67,877,400 | $8,150,000 | 7221 |
| 2011 | $64,540,858 | $8,715,638 | 6865 |
Day 3 resumes today with 3,453 players still in contention. The final table is scheduled to be played on July 15, and the new World Champion will be crowned on July 16.
