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.
- Deposit $20 and get $30 worth of free play
- One of the best mobile apps
- Biggest MTT guarantees
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.
- Deposit $20 and get $30 worth of free play
- One of the best mobile apps
- Biggest MTT guarantees
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 |
