Last year, after the World Series of Poker Main Event drew 10,043 entries and broke a 17-year-old record, WSOP expressed confidence that the record would be short-lived and anticipated “another monster turnout” for the 55th annual World Series of Poker Main Event.
And they were absolutely right.
For the second consecutive year, the WSOP Main Event has attracted over 10,000 unique players. Not only did it reach five digits, but it also broke last year’s record of 10,043 entries. This year, the official count stands at 10,112, an increase of 69 entries.
This created a massive $94,041,600 prize pool — making it by far the richest tournament in poker history.
- Up to $100 in free play with first deposit*
- Top-quality software
- Compete for WSOP bracelets & rings
“10,000 entrants has become the new magic number for the WSOP Main Event,” said Ty Stewart, Executive Director of World Series of Poker in a press release. “The response has been overwhelming since our move to the Las Vegas Strip. Thank you to our partners, team members, and most of all, the players for another unforgettable summer.”
Two days ago, it seemed difficult that the Main Event would surpass last year’s participation, as it had only attracted around 4,300 players in the first three flights. However, a sudden influx of players in the remaining flights propelled the total entries past last year’s number, setting a new record.
As expected, the fourth flight, Day 1D, was the most popular. By the time late registration closed, a record 5,014 players had entered, the most ever for a Main Event starting flight. This brought the total number of players to 9,288, making it the second-largest Main Event in history. However, it still needed a few more entries to surpass last year’s figure of 10,043.
Late registration on Day 2, which has been an option since 2019, played a crucial role. Day 2ABC saw an additional 206 entries, bringing the total to 9,494, just 550 short of breaking another record. Concerns about whether a new record would be set were dispelled when a further 618 players entered, pushing the total to 10,112 and surpassing last year’s number.
Last year, we said that it would take another remarkable effort to gather a five-figure field size when the WSOP 2024 returned. And it has done so again. This achievement is indeed remarkable and praiseworthy, especially considering that the event had never surpassed 9,000 entrants in its long history before 2023.
WSOP 2024 Main Event Turnout Breakdown
| Day/Flight | Players | Prize Pool |
|---|---|---|
| 1A | 915 | $8,509,500 |
| 1B | 831 | $7,728,300 |
| 1C | 2528 | $23,510,400 |
| 1D | 5014 | $46,630,200 |
| 2ABC | 206 | $1,915,800 |
| 2D | 618 | $5,747,400 |
| Total | 10,112 | $94,041,600 |
After facing criticism for last year’s Main Event payout structure, the WSOP took players’ feedback into account and adjusted the payouts accordingly. The first-place prize has been set back to $10 million, down from last year’s $12.1 million. The second-place finisher will receive the standard $6 million, and all players at the final table will become millionaires, collectively sharing over $30 million.
A total of 1,517 players will make it into the money, with the smallest cash prize set at $15,000.
As you might imagine, several big names have made their way to Day 3. This includes the reigning champion Daniel Weinman, 2022 winner Espen Jorstad, Phil Ivey, Tom Dwan, Kristen Foxen, Brian Hastings, Landon Tice, BetMGM Poker ambassador Darren Elias, and Barry Greenstein.
At the start of Day 3, 3,617 players remain, all vying to make it into the money as Day 2ABC and 2D combine today. Survivors of Day 3 will return on Wednesday, with the money bubble expected to burst early on Day 4. The final table will be played on July 16, and the winner will be crowned on July 17.
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 |
| 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 |
| 2008 | $64,431,779 | $9,152,416 | 6844 |
