History of the River Poker Series Main Event
First taking place in 2008, the River Poker Series Main Event featured a $3 million prize pool and attracted 1,450 entries. Jim Carroll took the title that year for $700,000 after he defeated Young Cho in heads-up play. In 2009, Bobby Hempkins won $710,000 after topping a field of 1,500 entries, and in 2010, Khoueng Souvoravong beat a field of 1,436 to win $646,690.
Another big field came out in 2011, and Bronson Tucker won $640,400 for topping a field of 1,355 entries. In 2012, it was Aaron Massey taking the title and $651,559 in prize money when he finished first in a field of 1,394 entries.
In 2013, the buy-in was upped to $2,500 after previously being $2,100. Khaophone Inthavong emerged from the field of 1,108 entries that year to earn the $473,900 top prize, and then in 2014 it was Jason Helder winning the event for a cool $1 million thanks to the first-place guarantee. Helder topped a field of 1,323 entries.
| Year | Guarantee | Buy-In | Entries | Winner | Prize | Runner-Up | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | $2,500,000 | $2,500 | --TBD-- | --TBD-- | --TBD-- | --TBD-- | --TBD-- |
| 2014 | $2,500,000 | $2,500 | 1,323 | Jason Helder | $1,000,000* | Travis Rice | $340,403 |
| 2013 | $2,500,000 | $2,500 | 1,108 | Khaophone Inthavong | $473,900 | Benjamin Kantor | $286,418 |
| 2012 | $4,000,000 | $2,100 | 1,394 | Aaron Massey | $651,559 | Andrew Robinson | $334,030 |
| 2011 | $3,000,000 | $2,100 | 1,355 | Bronson Tucker | $640,400 | Richard Baker | $342,300 |
| 2010 | $3,000,000 | $2,100 | 1,436 | Khoueng Souvoravong | $646,690 | Daniel Snowden | $373,360 |
| 2009 | $3,000,000 | $2,100 | 1,500 | Bobby Hempkins | $710,000 | Kelli Shields | $370,000 |
| 2008 | $3,000,000 | $2,100 | 1,450 | Jim Carroll | $700,000 | Young Cho | $365,000 |
*Denotes a guaranteed first-place prize.
Since its inception, the River Poker Series Main Event has attracted an average of 1,367 entries and awarded tens of millions of dollars in prize money. Another field of 1,300-plus is anticipated this year, and with the guarantee you will see the winner awarded $1 million.