45th Annual WSOP Becomes Biggest Ever, Establishing Several Key Records

Chad Holloway

Level 6 : 250/500, 50 ante

According to the World Series of Poker (WSOP), in another remarkable testament to the health and strength of the game of poker globally, the 45th annual WSOP at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas established a host of new records as poker enthusiasts from 107 different nations traveled to Las Vegas to compete in the game’s grandest spectacle. The WSOP remained the industry standard-bearer, with a record-setting 82,360 entries in 65 events and awarding the largest prize pool in WSOP history: $225,584,873.

The new all-time high in participants surpassed by 3.6 percent the previous record of 79,471 set last year. The Main Event in 2014 had 6,683 entries, creating the largest prize pool of the 2014 WSOP at $62,820,200. The winner will receive $10,000,000.

“There is only one WSOP,” said World Series of Poker Executive Director Ty Stewart. “We’re humbled to have seen this kind of response to our 10th series at the Rio. More than ever before, we embraced the challenge to have something for everyone who loves the game. With some of the biggest events ever organized it is clear poker remains strong and its best days are ahead. We can’t wait to start planning for next year.”

For the tenth consecutive year, the WSOP generated a total prize pool well in excess of $100 million, and for only the second time in its history, topped the $200 million mark.

In the 45-year history of the WSOP, the prestigious tournament has now awarded more than $2 billion in prize money. When added to the previous total — $1,840,172,006 – this year’s massive prize pool brings the new all-time money awarded tally to $2,065,756,879. More than $1 billion of this has come in the last six years alone ($1,005,789,961). This year’s total prize pool surpassed last year’s amount by 14.4 percent.

The youngest player in this year’s WSOP Main Event was Zachary Zaffos, of Weston, Florida, who played Day 1c of the Main Event and turned 21 just one day before entering. The oldest player to participate in this year’s Main Event was 93-year-old William Wachter of Carmel, New York, who played Day 1b. Wachter, was also the oldest participant last year. Both players were eliminated on Day 1. Jack Ury, at the young age of 95, still holds the WSOP record as oldest participant. Poker Hall of Famer Henry Orenstein became the oldest person to cash this year, when the 90-year-old finished in eighth place in Event #60.

The $10,000 No-Limit Hold’em World Championship — commonly referred to as the WSOP Main Event — attracted the largest number of players since 2010, becoming the fifth-largest WSOP Main Event in the 45-year history of the event.

Here is a quick statistical overview of the 2014 WSOP official gold bracelet events: