WSOP Records Toppled

As each day in this first week of the World Series of Poker unfolds, we are witness to new record after record.

Event 1 - 662 players = RECORD
Event 2 - 2,305 players = RECORD
Event 3 - 1,071 players = RECORD
Event 4 - 1,049 players = RECORD
Event 5 – 699 players = RECORD

Tournament director, Johnny Grooms, had an expression of disbelief on his face has he told someone how many people were in Event 5, the $1,500 Omaha H/L tournament. He looked around the room and just couldn't believe what he was seeing. Barely half that many players were in last year's tournament. During the final table of Event 4, the $1,500 Limit Hold’em tournament, Grooms announced that the 699 player turnout for Event 5 made it the largest Omaha H/L Split tournament in the history of poker.

While the expanding numbers have injected a certain buzz and excitement into the convention center at the Rio and the prize money that comes with that is astounding, the great number of players has also created problems. Less than one week in, scheduling is already becoming a noticeable issue.

Each event was slated to begin at noon, play down to the final table, and then have the final table commence at 4:00pm the next day. The problem is that while the WSOP expected a record turnout, officials did not foresee the absolute obliteration of records, as is happening now. Because there are so many more players than expected, the first days have gone very long and the final tables have not been set before players go to bed. Thus, they have to continue the next day and the final table does not start when it should. The $1,500 No-Limit Hold’em event had so many entrants, in fact, that it actually had to be spread across three days instead of two.

One example of the toll the extended hours are having on players was seen during an ESPN production break during the $1,500 Limit Hold’em event. It was midnight and four players remained. The final table did not begin play until 8:30pm. As players and spectators stretched their legs, Adam Hersh, one of the four finalists, was quite obviously bleary eyed and exhausted. He recounted the last couple days to his friends, telling them that he started that tournament at noon Sunday and played until 3:00am Monday. He then continued play at noon Monday and was obviously still playing at midnight. That is twenty-seven hours of poker in the last two days, all for one of the lowest buy-ins of the WSOP. And Hersh wasn’t even done playing.

Similarly, the $1,500 Omaha H/L event started at noon Monday and the final table is still not determined at 2:45am Tuesday.

This year, more than any other year at the WSOP, the bracelet winners will certainly be earning their paydays.

Side note: In keeping with the title of this article, Phil Hellmuth tied Barry Johnston for most money finishes at the WSOP (47) when he made the cut in the $1,500 No-Limit Hold’em event. He broke the record in the $1,500 Limit Hold’em event, but Johnston pulled back into a tie when he cashed in the $1,500 Omaha H/L tournament.

Originally published June 7, 2005