DAY 3 STARTS MONDAY WITH 2,557 PLAYERS WHO HAVE HOPES AND DREAMS ALIVE

Number of Entries:  7,319

DAY'S HEADLINES

2010 World Series of Poker Main Event Championship Continues

David Assouline is the Chip Leader at End of Day 2-B

Doyle Brunson and Phil Ivey Hit the Rail

2,734 Players Begin Day 2-B – Only 1,357 Survive

Saturday’s Survivors Return on Monday, July 12th for Day Three

Out of 7,319 Total Starters – 2,557 Dreams Remain Alive (35%)

Canadian First and Brazilian Second in Current Overall Standings

Note:  For the tournament portal page for this event, including the day’s chip counts, click HERE.

DAILY DIARY
 
The 2010 World Series of Poker Main Event continued on Saturday with the play and conclusion of Day 2-B.  This session included the second of two flights of players who survived past the initial round of competition.  The first round of competition consisted of four starting days, classified as 1-A through 1-D.

Day 2-B began with 2,734 players.  After four levels of play (8 hours), only 1,357 players survived.  The remaining players will combine with Day 2-A survivors.  Day Three is to be played on Monday, July 12th.  There will be 2,557 players when play commences, which also means for the first time in the tournament all players will be competing together at the Rio.

The end of Day 2-B chip leader is David Assouline, from Hampstead, Quebec (Canada).  He has 387,800 in chips, which leads all players at this point in the championship.  Assouline has never been in this spot before.  His sole recorded cash in a live tournament took place in a 500 Euro buy-in event in France where he won about $4,000.  Assouline has never cashed at the WSOP, to date.

Also of note were the fine performances of former gold bracelet winner Vanessa Selbst (Brooklyn, NY), who finished the day ranked in eleventh place.  Former world champions who survived included Robert Varkonyi and Dan Harrington.

Among those who did not fare as well on Day 2-B were Doyle Brunson and Phil Ivey.  In fact, this was a brutal day for last year’s November Nine players.  Four of the nine players from last year’s final table busted out on this day -- with Phil Ivey, Darvin Moon, Antoine Saout, and Jeff Shulman walking the plank.

The Main Event continues through July 17th when the final table players will ultimately be determined, otherwise known as the “November Nine.”  

THE PLAYERS

Former world champions who participated on Day 2-B included:
 
Doyle Brunson (1976/1977)
Dan Harrington (1995)
Chris “Jesus” Ferguson (2000)
Robert Varkonyi (2002)

Doyle Brunson nursed a smaller than average-sized stack during most of the day.  He finally busted out following the dinner break at about 9 pm.  He lost holding pocket sevens – which ended up being quite unlucky for the poker legend.  Brunson is the only player in the game who elicits a unique response in what has become a WSOP custom.  At the moment he has been eliminated in recent years, players in the immediate area around Brunson begin to applaud spontaneously.  Then, as players at other tables look over to see Brunson standing up and walking away, the entire room begins applauding – entirely out of respect for the ten-time gold bracelet winner.  Brunson’s elimination, while not necessarily anticipated, has certainly been one of the most moving emotional moments each year at the WSOP.  

A decade after winning the Main Event, 2000 world champ Chris “Jesus” Ferguson was eliminated when holding A-7 suited against A-K suited.  He had been ground down to just 6,000 or so in chips when the fateful hand took place, and shoved with the hand hoping to regain some chips.  Ferguson missed and departed late in the day.

Dan Harrington enjoyed a good day.  He currently stands in the top third of the field -- ranked 351st out of 1,357 who finished the day.

Robert Varkonyi enjoyed a great day.  He currently stands near the top five percent of the field -- ranked 67th out of 1,357 who finished the day.

Notable non-pros who played on Day 2-B included:

Jason Alexander (actor – “Seinfeld)
Hank Azaria (actor/voice – “The Simpsons”)
Bruce Buffer (announcer -- UFC)
Orel Hershiser (former Major League Baseball player)
Shannon Elizabeth (actress – “American Pie”)
Sam Simon (producer – “The Simpsons”)

Baseball great Orel Hershiser was eliminated early in the day.  He (and another player) suffered brutal beats when Hershiser was dealt     and called an all-in re-raise by an opponent who had shoved with    .  A third player named Sam Haddad (Westwood, MA) had initially made a small initial raise and was next to contemplate his decision.  Haddad had    , about as bad a hand as possible against two all-in opponents.  Haddad did have both opponents covered and decided to make the call.  Haddad was way behind since one opponent held two tens.  Even a ten on board would not help his hand.  Haddad became slightly more optimistic when the flop came      .  He was basically drawing to a two-outer (a three).  The turn was a blank  .  But the   on the river made trip-threes for Haddad and left everyone shaking their heads.  Hershiser was a good sport and tossed a nice bustout gift to Haddad.  It was a signed baseball from the former Cy Young award winner and World Series (of Baseball) MVP.  Haddad raked in a nice-sized pot, and a baseball.

This was actor/comedian Jason Alexander's fourth straight year to compete in the Main Event.  He has also competed all four years at Ante Up for Africa (the WSOP's annual charity event).  Alexander was eliminated on this day.  Note:  A short interview with Alexander can be read in this report.

Jack Ury (Terre Haute, IN) broke his own record (set last year) as the oldest player ever to play in the WSOP Main Event.  Ury is 97-years-old and is competing in his fourth straight world championship.  Ury remains alive in the Main Event although he is quite low on chips, with 8,500.  Ury will need to make a major move on Day Three.

Nikolay Evdakov (Moscow, Russia), who holds the record for most cashes within a single year at the WSOP (with 10), is also expanding his record for most cashes ever within a three-year period.  Evdakov was eliminated on this day.

Poker Hall of Fame members who played on Day 2-B included:

Barbara Enright -- Playing Day 3….still alive (below average chips)
Lyle Berman – Eliminated on Day 2-B

The ESPN Main Stage hosts the feature table.  The star of Day 2-B was initially Maryland lumberjack and last year’s Main Event runner up, Darvin Moon.  Following Moon’s exit, 1995 world champion Dan Harrington became the primary focus of coverage and interest.

Current Status of Former WSOP Main Event Champions:

1975/1976:  Doyle Brunson – Eliminated Day 2-B
1978:  Bobby “the Owl” Baldwin – Eliminated Day 2-A  
1983:  Tom McEvoy – Eliminated Day 2-A
1986:  Berry Johnston – Eliminated Day 2-A
1987/1988:  Johnny Chan – Survived Day 2-A….still alive (among chip leaders)
1989:  Phil Hellmuth – Eliminated Day 1-C
1993:  Jim Bechtel – Survived Day 2-A….still alive (average chips)
1995:  Dan Harrington – Playing Day 3….still alive (average chips)
1996:  Huck Seed – Eliminated Day 1-C
1998:  Scotty Nguyen – Survived Day 2-A….still alive (average chips)
2000:  Chris “Jesus” Ferguson – Eliminated Day 2-B
2001:  Carlos Mortensen – Eliminated Day 2-A
2002:  Robert Varkonyi – Playing Day 3….still alive (above average chips)
2003:  Chris Moneymaker – Playing Day 3….still alive (average chips)
2004:  Greg “Fossilman” Raymer – Eliminated Day 1-A
2005:  Joe Hachem – Eliminated Day 1-D
2006:  Jamie Gold – Eliminated Day 1-B
2007:  Jerry Yang – Eliminated Day 1-C   
2009:  Joe Cada – Playing Day 3….still alive (above average chips)

Current Status of Last Year’s November Nine:

Joe Cada – Playing Day 3….still alive (above average chips)
Darvin Moon – Eliminated Day 2-B
Antoine Saout – Eliminated Day 2-B
Eric Buchman – Playing Day 3….still alive (above average chips)
Jeff Shulman – Eliminated Day 2-B
Steven Begleiter – Eliminated on Day 1-C
Phil Ivey – Eliminated Day 2-B
Kevin Schaffel – Eliminated Day 1-B
James Akenhead – Eliminated Day 2-A

Only two of last year’s November Nine remain alive in the Main Event.  Joe Cada is in above-average chip position.  Eric Buchman is in the best chip position of last year's finalists.  All other former finalists have now been eliminated.

Phil Ivey was eliminated on this day.  His disastrous hand involved Q-Q against K-K.  Ivey has the queens and was nearly all-in.  Things look bleak for the eight-time gold bracelet winner, until the turn when a queen fell – giving trip queens to Ivey.  The river was even more dramatic.  A king rained down on the river, crushing Ivey and creating an uproar inside cavernous Pavilion tournament room.  Ivey was left with a paltry 1,900 in chips and exited a short time later.  The player who officially eliminated Ivey was Yuji Masaki.   

Darvin Moon, who was last year’s runner up to winner Joe Cada, exited during the middle of the day.  He lost most of his stack holding pocket jacks against A-Q after a queen hit the board.  He then busted out holding ten-nine, after he flopped a pair of tens.  The opponent had pocket aces which held up, and Moon hit the rail.
 
Current Status of former WSOP “Players of the Year”:

Daniel Negreanu – Playing Day 3….still alive (below average chips)
Allen Cunningham – Playing Day 3….still alive (above average chips)
Jeff Madsen – Eliminated Day 1-C
Tom Schneider – Eliminated Day 2-B
Erick Lindgren – Eliminated Day 1-B
Jeffrey Lisandro – Eliminated Day 1-D

Current Status of Non-Poker Celebrities:

Ray Romano – Eliminated Day 1-A
Rene Angelil – Playing Day 3….still alive (below average chips)
Orel Hershiser – Eliminated Day 2-B
Shanna Moakler – Eliminated Day 1-C  
J-Kwon, a.k.a. Jay Kwon – Eliminated Day 1-C
Scott Ian – Eliminated Day 1-C
Anthony Rapp – Eliminated Day 1-C
Shane Warne – Eliminated Day 2-A
Emmitt Smith – Eliminated Day 1-D
Jason Alexander – Eliminated Day 2-B
Bruce Buffer -- Playing Day 3….still alive (above average chips)
Gabe Kaplan – Playing Day 3….still alive (below average chips)
Sara Underwood – Eliminated Day 2-A
Shannon Elizabeth – Eliminated Day 2-B

Historical Footnote:  The highest Main Event finish (and cash) by a celebrity was actor and comedian Gabe Kaplan, who finished 13th in the 1991 championship.  The highest Main Event finish for a (non-poker) celebrity was actor Telly Savalas, who finished 21st in the 1992 championship.

JASON ALEXANDER (ACTOR) -- ELIMINATED

Jason Alexander will forever be known as the lovable loser on the smash hit television series, “Seinfeld.”  But Alexander is a much deeper thinker and a far more generous man with his time and interests than seen in any fictional television character or stage role.  He has performed countless acts of charity over the past two decades.  He’s also a highly-committed social and political activist.  Alexander also loves poker passionately, demonstrated this year by playing in his fourth consecutive WSOP Main Event.  He survived Day One, but was eliminated about midway through the second round of competition.  Alexander was interviewed a short time after he exited the tournament.

Question:  Does your profession, being an actor, help you as a poker player?
Alexander:  It may help a little bit, but not against the pros.  Against some novice players, it can create a bit of an edge.  I can create a kind of impression during a hand.  But frankly, if I have time to spend thinking about how I am going to perform, I’m probably in the wrong hand.  There may be a couple of times where an actor can have an edge, such as when you are bluffing.  It can help there.  But if you are trying to hide a hand that’s really good, there is no actor in the world that can pull that off.  Because the minute anyone sees where a guys goes (mimics comic face), the other guy is going to say ‘he’s got a monster.’

Question:  This is the fourth straight year you have played the WSOP Main Event.  What is it that attracts you to this tournament?
Alexander:   I make time to come here, no matter what else I am doing.  This is the dream maker.  This is the place where you can say, ‘if the planets align, I can actually win this.’  It’s also very exciting.  I also happen to enjoy the game of poker.  I like the people who play it, for the most part.  Every year that I have been here, if you take every table I have been at, I have met nothing but great people.  We’ve had a good time.  It’s a social game.  I meet people here at the WSOP from all over the world.  This is one of the few tournaments where all of those things are true.  If you are a people person and you love the game of poker, and if you are crazy enough to dream then dream, then this is the place you want to be.  

Question:  What about next year?  Will we see Jason Alexander at the 2011 WSOP?
Alexander:  You bet!  Absolutely!

DUEL GOLD BRACELET WINNER (2010) – FRANK KASSELA

Frank Kassela, the winner of two gold bracelets at this year’s World Series of Poker appears headed for the 2010 WSOP “Player of the Year” honor.  His lead in the annual points-based race makes him a virtual lock to win the coveted title, which signifies the best all-around player performance over the entire course of the WSOP, including all open bracelet tournaments -- 54 in all.  Kassela is a 42-year-old professional poker player from Las Vegas, NV.  He enjoyed a fabulous breakthrough year at the WSOP, earning two gold bracelet wins, three final table appearances, and five in-the-money-finishes.  His combined earnings total $1,233,987 – not counting results in the Main Event which is presently ongoing.  Kassela finished Day 2-B still alive, with 127,000.  This ranks 280th out of the 1,357 who survived the day.
 
Question:  How did it go today?
Kassela:  Today was a little more up and down than I wish it had been.  I started the day at 87,000 and ran that up to 148,000 and then finished the day at 127,000.  Unfortunately, I went card dead for about two hours.  I don’t think I played two pots in that entire time.  

Question:  Talk about how important momentum is in tournament poker.  You now have two kinds of momentum on your side – the self-confidence in your own game where you can trust your own instincts, as well as the momentum that other players now know you, and in some cases fear you.  Talk about momentum.
Kassela:  The momentum that I feel right now is really valuable.  Internally, it helps me to manage all the ups and downs that come with playing in the Main Event.  The recognition and all the attention I am getting actually helps, I think.  I am getting more lay downs from people than I would have otherwise, so getting a bit of a taste of what it’s like to be Daniel Negreanu is pretty good, I guess.

Question:  Do you like the attention?  Some players do not like the cameras or being famous.  
Kassela:  I do like it.  I mean its lots of fun.  I enjoy poker a lot more than most people for the sport of the game itself.  And, I enjoy all the stuff that goes on around it.  I love it and so far I have had a blast.

Question:  It appears you are about as close to winning the 2010 WSOP Player of the Year race as possible, without an official declaration.  What does possibly winning the Player of the Year honor mean to you?
Kassela:  As a poker player, I do not think there is anything you can be more proud of than being the WSOP Player of the Year.  This is where all of the best poker players come to play.  There is nothing that anyone holds back here at the World Series of Poker.  So, if you can come here not just for a few days but for a month and a half and be the Player of the Year, nothing beats it.

Question:  You survived Day Two.  Next, you come back for Day Three.  Are there any adjustments you will make or changes in strategy over the next day or two versus what you have done the previous two days?
Kassela:  Right now, I’m sitting at 125 big blinds.  So, I have a stack size that does not require a whole lot of alteration in my basic strategy.  I’m just playing solid hands right now.  I’m focusing on my opposition.  I’m just practicing the fundamentals of solid poker.  I think that’s the right thing to do at this stage of the tournament.

Question:  Hypothetically, if you were to be offered you a Faustian deal, where a giant magic wand is waved and you automatically receive ninth-place prize money ($811,923), which means you made the final table but are the first player to bust out, would you accept the offer?
Kassela:  (Laughing) Wow, that’s tough.  I mean, I want to win the Main Event.  I want to win the whole thing.  My final answer?  The answer is no.

THE TOURNAMENT

All players began the tournament with 30,000 in chips.

Tables began ten-handed.  The reason play was ten-handed instead of nine-handed was primarily to be able to accommodate a large number of registrants if need be.  Once Day Two began, play went to nine-handed, which is expected to remain in effect until play reaches the final ten players, and then one player is eliminated – thus making the “November Nine.”

Day 2-B played four full levels.  Each level is two hours long.  Play ended at 11:00 pm.

The average stack size is currently about 87,000 in chips.

When players return for Day Three, blinds will be 600-1,200 -- with a 200 ante.  There is one hour remaining in Level 9.

Day 2-B began with 2,734 players.  There were 1,357 survivors.  This means 49.6 percent of Day Two starters survived round two.

With this day now complete, there are 2,557 total players are still alive in the Main Event.  This is the sum of Day 2-A survivors (1,200) combined with 2-B survivors (1,357).

Players who survived Day 2-B will return to continue their quest for the 2010 world poker championship on Monday, July 12th, at 12 noon.  On Monday, every player still alive in the tournament will be in the tournament facility at the same time, for the first time.

THE LEADERBOARD

This chip leader from this day is David Assouline, from Hampstead, Quebec (Canada).  He currently has 387,800.  Incredibly, Assouline was reported to have made a potentially disastrous miscalculation.  During one of the breaks (for a chip color up), Assouline assumed the break was for dinner.  He departed the tournament area for more than an hour, impervious to the fact that his giant stack was slowly being blinded off.  When Assouline returned from his unscheduled dinner, he discovered he had missed a full hour of play.  Nevertheless, Assouline managed to end the day as the chip leader.

This chip leader from the previous session (Day 2-A) was Boulos Estafanous, from Darien, IL.  He has two previous WSOP cashes.  However, Estafanous has performed quite well in many poker tournaments played mostly in the Midwest.  He won the first two poker tournaments he cashed – which were the first Bayou Poker Challenge (Harrah’s New Orleans) in 2004.  He also won the Chicago Poker Open in 2005.  However, Estafanous has yet to cash in the WSOP Main Event and will be in unfamiliar territory in the days ahead.  Estafanous currently has 340,100 in chips.

Ranking second in chips from this day is Ricardo Fasanaro, from Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Only four of 1,357 players from this group have in excess of 300,000 in chips.

Only 77 of 1,357 players from this group have in excess of 200,000 in chips.

Here is how the chip leaders from each day have fared, thus far:

1-A:  Corwin Cole, from Las Vegas, NV – Survived Day 2-A (currently at 186,000 – 75th place)
1-B:  James Danielson, from LaPlata, MD – Survived Day 2-B (currently at 130,00 -- 261st place)
1-C:  Mathieu Sauriol, from Laval, Quebec (Canada) – Survived Day 2-A (175,100 – 97th place)
1-D:  Steve Billirakis, from Bourbonnais, IL – Survived Day 2-B (currently at 158,800 -- 155th place)
2-A:  Boulos Estafanous – To Be Determined
2-B:  David Assouline – To Be Determined

A Canadian player leads the overall standings (all players remaining).  In fact, Canadians currently hold 3 of the top 14 spots.  A Brazilian player is ranked second -- which is the best showing ever by any South American player at the end of Day Two, or beyond.  Here are the nations currently represented in the top 25:  Canada, Brazil, United States, Denmark, Netherlands, Great Britain

THE NATIONS

There are 92 nations and territories represented among all players who entered this year’s WSOP Main Event. (The entire 2010 WSOP attracted participants from 117 different locales).

This year’s Main Event is comprised of 67.9 percent Americans.  In other words, 32.1 percent of all participants are from other nations and territories.

The top-ten nations by participation in the Main Event are:

United States – 4,973 players
Canada – 482
Great Britain – 292
France – 176
Germany – 176
Australia – 110
Sweden – 99
Russia – 89
Italy – 81
Netherlands – 78

THE DAYS

In 2009, at the conclusion of Day Two, the eventual champion Joe Cada ranked in 99th place.

In 2008, at the conclusion of Day 2, the eventual champion Peter Eastgate ranked in 484th place.

In 2007, at the conclusion of Day 2, the eventual champion Jerry Yang ranked in 26th place.

In 2006, at the conclusion of Day 2, the eventual champion Jamie Gold ranked in 155th place.

Based on WSOP figures (2006 to present), seven of the eight Day Two chip leaders have cashed.  The previous results are as follows:

2009 2-A – Amir Lehavot finished in 226th place
2009 2-B – Peter DeBaene finished in 398th place

2008 2-A – Brian Schaedlich finished in 456th place
2008 2-B – Peter Biebel finished in 273rd place

2007 2-A – Jeff Banghart finished in 41st place
2007 2-B – Gus Hansen finished in 61st place

2006 2-A – Yuriy Kozinskiy did not cash
2006 2-B – Dmitri Nobles finished in 76th place

During the mega-era (2003 to present), the eventual WSOP champions and their chip positions at the conclusion of Day Two were:

2003 – Chris Moneymaker, 60,475 in chips (ranked 11th)*
2004 – Greg “Fossilman” Raymer, 74,400 in chips (ranked 7th)
2005 – Joe Hachem, 67,350 in chips (not in top 25)
2006 – Jamie Gold, 100,125 in chips (ranked 23rd)
2007 – Jerry Yang, 99,700 in chips (not in top 25)
2008 – Peter Eastgate, 62,325 in chips (not in top 25)
2009 – Joe Cada 187,225 in chips (ranked 99th)

*NOTE:  2003-2005 started with 10,000 in chips.  2006-2008 started with 20,000 in chips.  2009 starts with 30,000 in chips.

ODDS AND ENDS

Based on the birthdates of all 7,319 players, the average age of all participants in the Main Event is 37 years and 4 months.  

The most common phrase heard on Day 2-B?  “All-In and a Call, Table X!”  Any all-in bet which is called in the Main Event elicits a vocal auto-response from dealers who are instructed to call attention to the table, both for tournament staff to monitor more closely and for ESPN television cameras to (possibly) film.

The second most common phrase heard on Day 2-B?  “Seat Open, Table X!”  As players are eliminated, tables are consolidated one by one, and the tournament gradually becomes smaller.  Dealers call attention to open seats to tournament staff can re-fill the seat as quickly as possible.

One of the day’s more comically insulting moments took place at a table inside the Amazon Room.  The two players, who shall remain anonymous, got involved in a verbal jousting match.  After one confrontational hand was over, the first player said to the other, “I can’t believe you made that call.  Only a complete idiot would make a call in that spot.  What were you thinking?”  The other player shot back, “I was thinking I had you beat.  And I was right.”

This is the 57th and final event on the 2010 WSOP schedule which is played in Las Vegas.  Five more gold bracelet events will take place in London, England at the Empire Casino, to be held in September 14 through 28th as part of the Fourth Annual World Series of Poker Europe.    

This marks the sixth consecutive year the WSOP has been held at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino.  Prior to 2005, the WSOP was held at Binion’s Horseshoe in downtown Las Vegas.  As a testament to the expansion of the WSOP since Harrah’s Entertainment assumed ownership and control of the world most prestigious poker event, more than three quarters of the $1.2 billion in prize money has been awarded to winners within the Rio – three times the amount awarded during the entire 35-year period at the Horseshoe.

This is the 885th gold bracelet event in World Series of Poker history.  Note:  This figure includes every official WSOP event played, including tournaments during the early years when there were no actual gold bracelets awarded.  It also includes the 11 gold bracelets awarded to date at WSOP Europe.

In the 41-year history of the WSOP, the total combined amount of prize money that has been awarded amounts to $1,228,375,121.

The total number of entrants in the WSOP Main Event (all years combined) is 50,756.

The WSOP title sponsor the last two years has been Jack Link’s Beef Jerky.  As part of a fun promotion, Jack Links gives away large quantities of their product to Main Event players who make big hands.  This year’s key hand is four jacks.  44 players made the hand during the first six days of play.

WOMEN IN THE MAIN EVENT

Special Note:  The WSOP recognizes that player characteristics such as gender, race, etc. do not typically warrant special mention.  However, since many members of the media wish to know details about female participation and status, the staff is providing this information for media use.

The unofficial total number of females who participated in this year’s Main Event was 216.  There is no official record since entrants are not designated by their gender.  However, it has been customary to count every player at the start of Day One and take an unofficial head-count of female players.  This figure represents about 3 percent of the field.

Here are the highest-female finishers (by year) in the WSOP Main Event (Note:  Only players who finished in-the-money were recorded):

No female cashed in the Main Event between the years 1970-1985.

1986 – Wendeen Eolis (25th)
1987 – None
1988 – None
1989 – None
1990 – None
1991 – None
1992 – None
1993 – Marsha Waggoner (19th)
1994 – Barbara Samuelson (10th)
1995 – Barbara Enright (5th)
1996 – Lucy Rokach (26th)
1997 – Marsha Waggoner (12th)
1998 – Susie Isaacs (10th)
1999 – None
2000 – Annie Duke (10th)
2001 – None
2002 – None
2003 – Annie Duke (47th)
2004 – Rose Richie (98th)
2005 – Tiffany Williamson (15th)
2006 – Sabyl Cohen-Landrum (56th)
2007 – Maria Ho (38th)
2008 – Tiffany Michelle (17th)
2009 – Leo Margets, a.k.a. Leonor Margets (27th)  

WSOP MAIN EVENT ALL-TIME RECORDS

Most Main Event Wins (Career):

3 – Johnny Moss (*first win was by vote)
3 – Stu Ungar
2 – Doyle Brunson
2 – Johnny Chan

Most Main Event Cashes (Career):

10 – Berry Johnston
7 – Bobby Baldwin
7 – Humberto Brenes
7 – Doyle Brunson
7 – Jay Heimowitz
7 – Phil Hellmuth
7 – Mike Sexton
6 – John Bonetti
6 – Johnny Moss
6 – Jason Lester
6 – Steve Lott
5 – 14 players tied with 5 cashes each

Most Main Event Final Tables (Career):

5 – Doyle Brunson
5 – Jesse Alto
4 – Johnny Chan
4 – T.J. Cloutier
4 – Dan Harrington
4 – Berry Johnston
4 – Johnny Moss
4 – Stu Ungar
3 – 6 players tied with 3 final tables each

Youngest Winner

Joe Cada (2009) -- 21 years, 11 months, 22 days

Oldest Winner

Johnny Moss (1974) – 66 years, 11 months, 24 days

Oldest Participant

97 years -- Jack Ury (2010)

Most Consecutive Years Played

37 – Howard “Tahoe” Andrew (1974 to present)

Most Main Events Played (Career)

38 – Doyle Brunson (did not play 1999 through 2001)

Most Consecutive Years to Cash (Main Event)

4 – Theodore Park (2005 – 2008)
4 – Bo Sehlstedt (2004 – 2007)
4 – Robert Turner (1991 – 1994)

2010 WSOP STATISTICS (INCLUDING MAIN EVENT)

Tournament attendance is up significantly from last year when there were 60,875 entries (then, a record).  This year, there were 72,966 total entries -- an increase of 20 percent.  Hence, this is the biggest WSOP of all time, measured by total participation.  

Prize money increased from 2008, when the total money awarded was a record $180,774,427.  This year, the total amount of prize money awarded was $187,109,850 – an increase of 3.5 percent.

This year, there were 57 gold bracelet events – which is the same number as last year.

Through the conclusion of Event #56, the nationalities of gold bracelet winners have been:

United States (38)
Great Britain (5)
Canada (5)
Hungary (2)
New Zealand (1)
France (1)
Russia (1)
Norway (1)
Holland (1)
Israel (1)

Through the conclusion of Event #56, the national origin (birthplace) of winners has been:

United States (31)
Great Britain (5)
Canada (5)
Vietnam (2)
China (2)
Hungary (2)
New Zealand (1)
France (1)
Lebanon (1)
Russia (1)
Mexico (1)
Bangladesh (1)
Norway (1)
Holland (1)
Israel (1)

Through the conclusion of Event #56, the breakdown of professional poker players to semi-pros and amateurs who won gold bracelets is as follows:

Professional Players (39): Michael Chow, Michael Mizrachi, Praz Bansi, Josh Tieman, Peter Gelencser, James Dempsey, Men “the Master” Nguyen, Matt Matros, Yan R. Chen, Steve Gee, Carter Phillips, Jason DeWitt; Eric Buchman, David Baker, Richard Ashby, Dutch Boyd, Sammy Farha, David Warga, Will Haydon, Matt Keikoan, Mike Ellis, Luis Velador, Ayaz Mahmood, Phil Ivey, Luigi Kwaysser, Scott Montgomery, Steven Kelly, Steve Jelinek, Dean Hamrick, Ian Gordon, Gavin Smith, Jesse Rockowitz, Chris Bell, Shawn Busse, Sigurd Eskeland, Chance Kornuth, Ryan Welch, Brendan Taylor, Daniel Alaei

Semi-Pros (8): Frank Kassela, Tex Barch, Miguel Proulx, Jeffrey Papola, Frank Kassela, Mike Linn, Dan Kelly, Tomer Berda

Amateurs (9): Duc Pham, Aadam Daya, Pascal LeFrancois, Simon Watt, Vanessa Hellebuyck, Jeff Tebben, Konstantin Puchkov, Harold Angle, Marcel Vonk

Through the conclusion of Event #56, here is the list of repeat WSOP gold bracelet winners:

Praz Bansi
Men “the Master” Nguyen
Russ “Dutch” Boyd
Sammy Farha
David Warga (* his first WSOP win was in a non-open event)
Matt Keikoan
Luis Velador
Phil Ivey
Frank Kassela (two wins this year)
Daniel Alaei

Through the conclusion of 2010 World Series of Poker -- Event #56:

Youngest Winner – Steven Kelly (21), Dan Kelly (21)
Oldest Winner – Harold Angle (78)
Female Winners (open events) – None
Multiple-Event Winners (this year) – Frank Kassela