Many speculated that it would happen, but the last seat was sold just after 10am this morning, and the number is official: 6,000 entrants for Event 4. Another 2009 WSOP record was set with the final number, and it became the largest non-WSOP main event tournament ever to be held.
Players are already gathering in droves outside the Amazon Room for the first of two starting days of the $1,000 NLHE Stimulus Special. The madness will begin shortly!
See the official word after the jump.
40th Annual World Series of Poker Posts Three Records In Its First Three Days Including 6,000 Entrants for Stimulus Special™ WSOP Start Boasts Largest Non-Main Event Field, Largest Omaha Tournament and Largest Non-Main Event Prize PoolLAS VEGAS (May 30, 2009) Each of the first three open events of the 2009 World Series of Poker Presented By Jack Link’s Beef Jerky has broken a record.
First, it was Event #2, which set the record for largest prize pool for a non-Main Event field, when 201 players anted up $40,000 each to create a massive $7,718,400 prize pool. The previous record prize pool was $7,104,000 (2007) a solid $614,000 behind the new record.
Then, Event #3, the $1,500 Omaha Hi-Low, had 918 entrants, besting the old record of 833 and becoming the largest live Omaha tournament ever played.
But the most impressive feat thus far has been the sellout of Event #4 a $1,000 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em tournament. Billed as a stimulus special, it has blown away the then-record 3,929 entrants who participated in a $1,500 No-Limit Hold’em tournament at last year’s WSOP by selling a capacity of approximately 6,000 entries.
The new mark means the $1,000 event, which features two start days (May 30 and 31), is the largest non-WSOP Main Event tournament ever played. Registration for Event #4 is now sold out, with a maximum capacity of approximately 3,000 players per start day or 6,000 players total.
The demand for the Stimulus Special could be felt the moment we announced it, said World Series of Poker President and Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack. We welcome all the first-time players to the World Series of Poker and wish everyone good luck in their pursuit of a gold bracelet.
The total prize pool for Event #4 will exceed $5 million, with the winner guaranteed to earn more than 750 times the entry fee and the coveted gold bracelet. Each of the final table participants will receive at least six-figure paydays.
The 40th annual WSOP began May 26 at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas and will continue until July 15. For the second consecutive year, the final nine players in the WSOP Main Event will halt play this summer and return in November to compete for the most prized trophy in all of poker, the WSOP Main Event gold bracelet.