Record number of players vie for World Series of Poker title

A record 393 entrants anted up $10,000 each at Binion's Horseshoe on Monday to vie for $1 million in cash and the coveted title of World Series of Poker champion.

By today, the size of the field was whittled down to the final 36 players who will split a prize pool of $3.93 million.

Both the prize pool and number of entrants eclipsed the previous records of $3.5 million and 350 contestants set last year in the no-limit hold 'em world championship.

When the final hand is dealt on Thursday, 3,456 players will have competed for $11.28 million in prize money awarded to the top finishers of 16 events.

The tournament, begun 30 years ago by the late Horseshoe founder Benny Binion, has become the world's top poker event, drawing the best professional and amateur poker players to the downtown Las Vegas hotel-casino each spring.

Several factors have contributed to the rising popularity of the World Series and other poker tournaments. A successful player can win much larger prizes in tournament events while risking much smaller amounts than in live-action games.

In the World Series, for instance, a lucky contestant could spend as little as $240 to get into the finale through a satellite tournament, where winners earn seats into the $10,000 buy-in main event. The finale awards $1 million to the winner.

Another attraction to many is the chance to compete against the world's best poker players on -- at least theoretically -- an equal basis. You can't play golf versus Tiger Woods, try hitting a baseball off Greg Maddux or climb into the ring with Evander Holyfield, but you can sit down at a table with Johnny Chan, Doyle Brunson, T.J. Cloutier and other world-class players.

For many amateurs, the opportunity to say, "I knocked (name the poker legend) out of the final" is almost as rewarding as finishing in the money -- even if it was due to a lucky turn of the cards.

For those who prefer wagering on players rather than competing themselves, Mega$ports established former champ Huck Seed as the 30-1 favorite, with Men Nguyen the second favorite at 35-1. Defending title holder Thuan "Scotty" Nguyen was listed at 50-1.

Seed was among the final 36 today, while both Nguyens were ousted.

Mega$sports offered lower odds on former champs Doyle Brunson (100-1) and Bellagio President Bobby Baldwin (125-1). Baldwin's odds trailed those of Lakes Gaming Chairman Lyle Berman (50-1) but were ahead of former Stratosphere Chairman Bob Stupak (250-1). All failed to make the final four tables.

Mega$sports rated 89 players as 250-1 shots or better, with the rest of the field (all others) coming in at 3-1.

Second place in the final event is worth $768,625, third $489,125 and remaining prize amounts are set by reducing percentages. The 19th through 27th finishers will receive $27,950 apiece, while places 28th through 36th are worth $15,000 each.

The disparity in prize money at the final table often leads to deals among those contestants. In a game such as no-limit hold 'em, no lead is too big because a player's entire bankroll may be at risk on each hand.

Typically, if the remaining tournament chips are split equally among the final three contestants and they believe they are equally matched in skill, they may agree to combine the prize money for win places.

Then they would take the combined pool -- $2,257,750 -- and take $750,000 each, for example, playing out the remaining hands for the $2,583 left over and the gold bracelet that signifies world champion.

Play continues at the Horseshoe's tournament area on the second floor of the hotel-casino through today until only six players are left. They'll square off Thursday to determine the champion.

In preliminary events, 3,063 players competed for $7.35 million in prize money. The events, winners, first-place prizes and total prize pools included:

$1,500 buy-in limit hold 'em: Charlie Brahmi of Ventnor, N.J., $338,000, $913,500.

$1,500 buy-in razz: Eskimo Clark of New Orleans, La., $84,610, $211,500.

$2,500 buy-in limit hold 'em: John Esposito of Las Vegas, $219,225, $592,500.

$2,500 buy-in seven stud: David Grey of Henderson, $199,000, $497,500.

$2,500 buy-in pot-limit Omaha: Hassan Kamoei of Indio, Calif., $173,000, $432,500.

$2,500 buy-in seven card hi-low split: Ron Long of Ft. Wayne, Ind., $170,000, $425,000.

$2,500 buy-in no-limit hold 'em: Eric Holum of Reno, $283,975, $767,500.

$2,500 buy-in limit Omaha: Tommy Franklin of Gulfport, Miss., $104,000, $260,000.

$2,500 buy-in limit Omaha hi-low split: Steve Badger of Sherman Oaks, Calif., $186,000, $465,000.

$3,000 buy-in limit hold 'em: Josh Arieh of Atlanta, $202,800, $507,000.

$3,500 buy-in no-limit hold 'em: Mike Matusow of Henderson, $265,475, $717,500.

$3,000 buy-in pot-limit hold 'em: Layne Flack of Missoula, S. Dak., $224,400, $561,000.

$5,000 buy-in limit hold 'em: Eli Balas of Las Vegas, $220,000, $550,000.

$1,500 buy-in limit Omaha hi-low split: Mike Waitel, $134,500, $364,500.

$1,000 buy-in limit women's seven stud: Christine Pie, $34,000, $85,000.

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