Because of the effect anti-online gambling legislation had on internet poker rooms, last year marked only the third time, and the first time since 1992, that the number of entrants at the World Series of Pokers Main Event decreased from the previous year. While things are not back to 2006 levels, when nearly 9,000 players competed for $12 million, the tournament has rebounded slightly from the dip in 2007. This year, 6,844 players crowded the tables at the Rio for the first four flights of Day 1, up almost 500 from last year. Because of this increase, the prize pool has also risen, creating a first place haul of $9,119,517, the second largest payout in poker history. Not quite everyone at the final table will go home millionaires the ninth place finisher will only win $900,670. The Main Event will run through July 14 and will pause when the final table of nine players is reached. Those players will return on November 9 to play down to two. Those two will compete heads-up for the money and the bracelet on November 10. 2008 World Series of Poker World Championship No-Limit Texas Hold'em Payout Schedule 1: $9,119,338
2: $5,790,024
3: $4,503,352
4: $3,763,516
5: $3,088,013
6: $2,412,510
7: $1,769,177
8: $1,286,672
9: $900,670
10 12: $591,869
13 15: $463,202
16 18: $334,535
19 27: $257,334
28 36: $193,001
37 45: $154,401
46 54: $135,101
55 63: $115,800
64 72: $96,500
73 81: $77,200
82 90: $64,334
91 99: $51,467
100 162: $41,817
163 225: $38,600
226 288: $35,383
289 351: $32,107
352 414: $28,950
415 477: $27,020
478 540: $25,090
541 603: $23,160
604 666: $21,230
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