The poker industry

WSOP Main Event kicks off this weekend

Written by Ben Blaschke

The tournament every poker player on the planet dreams of winning gets underway this weekend with the 47th running of the World Series of Poker Main Event at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

Around 6,500 players will each stump up US$10,000 over the next few days for their chance at poker immortality and a first prize of more than US$7 million. Last year’s winner, Joe McKeehan, topped a field of 6,420 players to claim a US$7.683 million payday.

Cards

Image: Jayne Furman

 

The WSOP began in 1970 when Benny Binion invited seven of the nation’s best card sharps to compete for a winner takes all prize. Since then it has grown to become the showpiece stop on the annual poker calendar with 69 bracelet events held this year over the course of seven weeks.

However, it is the Main Event that brings pros, amateurs, professional athletes and world-famous movie stars together – all hoping to match the feats of former champions such as Doyle Brunson, Stu Ungar, Johnny Chan, Chris Moneymaker and Phil Hellmuth.

Since 2008, play has concluded once the final table has been reached with the November Nine returning four months later to play down to a winner.