PokerStars PSPC Makes the Top 20 Live Poker Tournaments List PokerStars PSPC Makes the Top 20 Live Poker Tournaments List

The numbers are in for the 2023 edition of the PokerStars Players No Limit Hold 'em Championship! Despite a very strong start, the event did not quite reach the same numbers as the inaugural edition, but it still made the top 25 list of the Largest Tournaments in Poker History in Terms of Prize Pool.

By the time the registration desks closed, the PSPC saw 1014 entrants, resulting in a massive prize pool of $24,843,000. Over 400 of these were PokerStars Platinum Pass winners, who received a valuable package covering the $25,000 entry fee, accommodation, and a few other perks to make their stay in the Bahamas a genuinely memorable experience.

For comparison, the first PSPC event saw 1039 entries, which was enough to make it the biggest live tournament outside the WSOP. The 2023 edition fell only a few entries short of beating that record, but this does not come as a tremendous surprise.

The live poker scene is still in recovery, following a couple of tough years caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many players are still not completely comfortable traveling long distances and spending time in crowded spaces, so the fact that the PSPC broke the 1000 entries is a big win in its own right.

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Closing in on the Money

What started with over 1000 players in the hunt for the title has dwindled to 255 players who are returning today to compete for the title and the colossal first-place prize of $4,053,200. But quite a few players making it to Day 3 will have at least some cause for celebrations.

The PSPC will pay 175 players, with the min-cash being $35,100. That means everyone who makes it past the bubble will pocket a $10,000 profit for their efforts. This may not seem like a lot for many high-rollers who paid $25k for the privilege, but for many qualifiers and Platinum Pass winners, even the min-cash is a very significant amount.

For those who want to keep up with the action, live coverage is available on the PokerStars TV, YouTube, and Twitch channels. The action will probably get fast and furious as the field dwindles and the bubble phase approaches.

PSPC 2023 Numbers

Total Players Platinum Pass Holders
Day 1 1014 405
Day 2 Survivors 255 96
ITM 175 -
Min-cash $35,100 -
First Prize $4,053,200 -

Experienced Pros & Eager Amateurs Rubbing Elbows

The PSPC represents an exciting mix of hardened pros, online qualifiers, and amateur players who were lucky enough to get their hands on one of the coveted Platinum Passes. There are 96 Platinum Pass winners still in the running, with Ignacio Gonzalez leading the pack with over 600,000 in chips.

There are quite a few PokerStars ambassadors still carrying the flag for the operator as well. These include Sam Grafton, Alejandro Lococo, and Arlie Shaban. Robert “Boston Rob” Mariano is the only one from the “celebrity” contingent still in the event. Krasimir Yankov starts the day as the chip leader, but there is plenty of play left and a long way to the title.

This year’s PSPC takes place at a new venue, Baha Mar Resort, making this event much more exciting and memorable for the pros and amateurs alike. The plan for today is to play through Level 17, which should coincide with the bubble bursting, but the tournament staff on the floor can change the schedule if necessary.

pokerstars
Last verified: Oct 2024
Special Signup Offer
100% deposit bonus up to $600!
  • Deposit $20 and get $30 worth of free play
  • One of the best mobile apps
  • Biggest MTT guarantees
Please play responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, visit the National Council of Problem Gambling.

Biggest Prize Pools in Live Tournament History

Event Entries Prize Pool Winner First Place Prize
2006 WSOP Main Event 8773 $82,512,162 Jamie Gold $12,000,000
2022 WSOP Main Event 8663 $80,782,475 Espen Jørstad $10,000,000
2019 WSOP Main Event 8569 $80,548,600 Hossein Ensan $10,000,000
2018 WSOP Main Event 7874 $74,015,600 John Cynn $8,800,000
2010 WSOP Main Event 7319 $68,799,059 Jonathan Duhamel $8,944,310
2017 WSOP Main Event 7221 $67,877,400 Scott Blumstein $8,150,000
2011 WSOP Main Event 6865 $64,531,000 Pius Heinz $8,711,956
2008 WSOP Main Event 6844 $64,333,600 Peter Eastgate $9,152,416
2016 WSOP Main Event 6737 $63,327,800 Qui Nguyen $8,005,310
2014 WSOP Main Event 6683 $62,820,200 Martin Jacobson $10,000,000
2012 WSOP Main Event 6598 $62,021,200 Greg Merson $8,527,982
2021 WSOP Main Event 6650 $62,011,250 Koray Aldemir $8,000,000
2009 WSOP Main Event 6494 $61,043,600 Joe Cada $8,547,042
2015 WSOP Main Event 6420 $60,348,000 Joe McKeehen $7,680,021
2007 WSOP Main Event 6358 $59,784,954 Jerry Yang $8,250,000
2013 WSOP Main Event 6352 $59,708,800 Ryan Riess $8,359,531
2005 WSOP Main Event 5619 $52,818,610 Joe Hachem $7,500,000
2012 WSOP Event 55 — The Big One for One Drop 48 $42,666,672 Antonio Esfandiari $18,346,673
2014 WSOP Event 57 — The Big One for One Drop 42 $37,333,338 Dan Colman $15,306,668
2016 Monte-Carlo One Drop Extravaganza 26 $27,437,564 Elton Tsang $12,248,912
2019 PokerStars Players NL Hold’em Championship 1039 $26,455,500 Ramon Colillas $5,100,000
2023 PokerStars Players NL Hold’em Championship 1014 $24,843,000 TBD $4,053,200
2018 WSOP Event 78 — The Big One for One Drop 27 $24,840,000 Justin Bonomo $10,000,000
2004 WSOP Main Event 2576 $24,224,400 Greg Raymer $5,000,000
2012 Macau High Stakes Challenge Super High Roller 73 $23,511,128 Stanley Choi $6,465,560
Super High Roller Bowl 2015 43 $21,500,000 Brian Rast $7,525,000
2016 WSOP Event 67 — High Roller for One Drop 183 $19,316,565 Fedor Holz $4,981,775
2013 WSOP Event 47 — One Drop High Roller 75 $17,891,148 Anthony Gregg $4,830,619
Super High Roller Bowl 2017 166 $16,800,000 Christoph Vogelsang $6,000,000
2007 WPT Championship 56 $15,495,750 Carlos Mortensen $3,970,415
2013 GuangDong Ltd Asia Millions Main Event 639 $15,376,897 Niklas Heinecker $4,456,885
2011 Pokerstars Caribbean Adventure 71 $15,132,000 Galen Hall $2,300,000
Super High Roller Bowl 2016 1560 $15,000,000 Rainer Kempe $5,000,000
2010 Pokerstars Caribbean Adventure 132 $14,831,300 Harrison Gimbel $2,200,000