With the registration for the 2026 WSOP Main Event officially closing, we have the final number of entries for poker’s biggest live tournament, and that number, according to the WSOP Live app, is 9,208.

While it is possible that a few more players will be added to the total over the next couple of hours, we don’t expect any significant changes. All participants have to be entered into the app system to be assigned their seats, so this number should be quite accurate.

While no attendance records were broken this time around, the field size puts the 2026 WSOP Main Event as the fourth-largest in the history of the series, and only a few hundred shy of last year’s field of 9,735.

Considering various geopolitical factors in play, a drop in attendance was somewhat expected. That said, with well over 9,000 players, each paying $10,000 for the privilege (in one way or another), there is nothing to be disappointed about.

The Main Event Is Still Going Strong

Looking back, the first time the Main Event broke the 10,000 mark was in 2023 (10,112 players). This was followed by another five-figure year in 2024 (10,043), while the last year saw 9,735 players.

If observed through that lens, it may seem like the 2026 Main Event attendance is low and that the tournament is on the decline.

However, we need to remember that the attendance record of 8,773 players that was set in 2006, the year when Jamie Gold won the title, remained intact until 2023. In 2023, and every year after, we saw a bigger turnout.

From that perspective, this year’s Main Event, being the fourth-largest ever, is certainly a success and a clear indicator that the love for poker is still there. Certain things that go beyond the scope of this article have certainly had an adverse influence, and if not for those, it would be safe to assume that this year’s attendance would be closer to that 10,000 mark once more.

As it is, the total prize pool for the tournament stands at $85,634,400. This means that 1,381 players should make the money, but the full breakdown of prizes will be announced a bit later today.

Long Grind Ahead

Today marks the second of two Day 2 flights for this year’s Main Event. At the end of the day yesterday, 1,259 players managed to find the bag and will return for Day 3 tomorrow.

They’ll be joined by all the survivors who make it through today, which should be another 1,000 or so players.

To reach the money, all of them will probably need to make it through the entire day once more, and the bubble will likely burst during early levels of Day 4. Of course, this is not set in stone, but it is the most likely outcome, looking at the past events.

The list of those who already secured their Day 3 seats includes the likes of Phil Hellmuth, Greg Merson, Greg Raymer, Jeremy Ausmus, and Brian Hastings, to just mention a few. The defending champion, Michael Mizrachi, will be returning as well.

Some heroes have already fallen, too. This list includes the likes of Daniel Negreanu, Antonio Esfandiari, Jason Koon, and Faraz Jaka, among others.

For those still with chips in front of them, the Main Event dream remains alive. The rest will have to wait another year to take a shot at the most coveted trophy in all of poker.