The 49th annual World Series of Poker is in full swing in Las Vegas, and the Rio Convention Center is swarming with pros, amateurs and celebrities from more than 85 countries vying for a shot at the game’s biggest prizes.
Seth Palansky, WSOP vice president of corporate communications, expects a prize pool of more than $60 million, with the winner of the $10,000 buy-in No-Limit Texas Hold ’Em Main Event likely to earn $8 million.
The Main Event, regarded as the world championship of poker, has attracted an average of 6,500 players over the past decade. Amateurs have won 16 of them. Pros have taken the rest.
This year, with ESPN and ESPN2 provide daily television coverage and PokerGo streaming portions of the action, the Main Event will play out through Wednesday, when the final nine competitors emerge to battle it out on Thursday and Friday for the championship.
“We’ve never had this everyday live coverage,” Palansky said. “It’s the biggest commitment we’ve had in terms of televising the event.”
Last year, a field of 7,221 competed for almost $68 million in total prize money. Scott Blumstein of Morristown, N.J., survived the final table to take home $8.15 million and the championship.
“This is my 14th World Series of Poker, and I can tell you, every single summer, there’s no place I’d rather be,” Tournament Director Jack Effel said.
“Just come out and try to make the best decisions you think are right every hand,” said Blumstein. “That’s what I came to do last year, and it worked out.”
