Like many things Las Vegas, the peak of the World Series of Poker was in 2006, when Jamie Gold took down the mammoth million first prize, a Main Event record. Last year, a staggering 7,862 hopefuls participated in the inaugural ,500 buy-in monster stack tournament.
The 2015 World Series of Poker, which starts on May 27, with two of the 68 total events taking place, is expected to produce massive turnouts, according to WSOP officials. “We don’t like to put out numbers per se,” said Seth Palansky, WSOP executive. “It’s all relative but it’s an indication of how things are tracking … It’s going to be huge.”
82,630 entrants participated last year, for a prize pool of around $224 million. The number was a 4 percent increase from the 79,471 entrants from 2013. Pre-registration for this year’s WSOP has toppled the last five years combined. Much of the planning surrounds the new “The Colossus” event, a $565 buy-in, scheduled for starting days on May 29 and May 30.
Previously, the biggest tournament was the 2006 Main Event, which saw 8,773 entrants, but The Colossus is expected to surpass that number, as hinted by WSOP Executive Director Ty Stewart. He added, “I will go on record for this: If it’s not by a large margin the largest event in the history of poker, it will be a disappointment.”
In addition to The Colossus, other new tournaments include a second $1,000 buy-in seniors event, a Super Seniors tournament which is open to players at least 65 years old, and the Lucky 7’s no-limit hold ‘em event with a $777 entry. For those looking for something with a higher price tag, the mixed-games Poker Players Championship will have a $50,000 entry, while a high-roller tournament will have people shell out $111,111 to play.
“We absolutely believe it’s our responsibility to the game of poker and to the World Series of Poker to bring as many new players to the event and to the city as early as we possibly can,” Stewart said. He added, “We’re ready to have our biggest event.”
