WSOP CIRCUIT OPENER AT HARRAH
Season’s Final WSOP Circuit Stop Continues through May 21st   

New Orleans, LA (May 11, 2012) – Everyone knew the season’s final World Series of Poker Circuit stop would be big.  But no one could have predicted the astonishing turnout at Harrah’s New Orleans.  
 
The first of a dozen gold ring events -- $355 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em -- attracted a record-smashing 945 entrants.  The attendance number set a new record as the largest poker tournament ever held in New Orleans.  The previous record was set on May 18, 2005 during the height of the so-called poker boom, in what was the first WSOP Circuit event ever held in the city’s history.  That event drew only 833 players, paltry by comparison to this year's stellar number. 
 
This year’s opener is taking place over a three-day period, from Thursday through Saturday.  The final table is expected to begin sometime on Saturday night, with $52,249 in prize money going to the winner.  The top 99 finishers will collect a payout.
 
Final table action will be streamed on a five-minute delay, here at WSOP.COM.
 
The big turnout was something of a surprise, given the many activities currently taking place in New Orleans.  One of the largest conventions in the city’s history was held this week.  That made vacant hotel rooms particularly hard to find, particularly in the downtown area, where Harrah’s New Orleans is located.  However, accommodations should be more plentiful next week which will give more poker players the option of coming to join the poker action.
 
Harrah’s New Orleans is the 17th and final World Series of Poker Circuit stop of the 2011-2012 season.  This year’s tournament series runs May 10-21.
 
Indeed, New Orleans has become a favorite destination for poker players and regulars on the WSOP Circuit.  For each of the past eight seasons, Harrah’s New Orleans has been the last stop of the tour, and continues to serve as the perfect host city in which to celebrate.
 
The full schedule of all poker events taking place at Harrah’s New Orleans can be seen HERE.