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World Series of Poker Main Event Winner to Receive $12 Million
Record Attendance at Rio Drives Historic Prize Pool;
12 to Win at Least $1 Million
LAS VEGAS (Aug. 1, 2006) ? The winner of the $10,000 No-Limit Texas Hold?em World Championship at the 37th annual World Series of Poker presented by Milwaukee?s Best Light
will take home a record $12 million, the largest single-event prize in live poker history.
The final payout schedule for the championship, commonly known at the World Series of Poker Main Event, awards
each of the top 12 finishers at least $1 million. The total net prize pool for the Main Event swelled to more than $82.5 million, bringing the total net prize pool for all 2006 World Series of Poker events
to more than $154 million.
?This World Series of Poker stands out as the best in the tournament?s illustrious 37-year history,? said World Series of Poker Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack. ?Never before
have so many people from around the world competed for so much prize money and the honor of winning the most coveted prize in all of poker -- the World Series of Poker champion?s bracelet.?
A total of
8,773 people entered the 2006 World Series of Poker Main Event, which began July 28 at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino. The previous participation record for a live poker event ? 5,619 players ? was set
at the 2005 World Series of Poker Main Event.
The 37th annual World Series of Poker also shattered all prize money records for live poker events. The 2006 Main Event prize pool of $82.5 million
eclipsed the roughly $53 million record set at last year?s Main Event. The more than $154 million total net prize pool for all 2006 events is up from more than $103 million in 2005.
For the first time
in live poker history the $1 million prize threshold will extend beyond the final table. In addition to the $12 million top prize, the following amounts will be awarded to the top finishers at this year?s
World Series of Poker Main Event:
2nd place: $6.1 million
3rd place: $4.1 million
4th place: $3.6 million
5th place: $3.2 million
6th place: $2.8
7th place: $2.3
8th place:
$1.9
9th place: $1.5
10th place: $1.1
11th place: $1.1
12th place: $1.1
13th place: $907,128
14th place: $907,128
15th place: 907,128
Play at the final table of the 2006 World
Series of Poker Main Event will begin Aug. 10 with nine participants.
The top 873 players in the 2006 Main Event will win money, with the 873rd finisher getting $14,597.
Harrah?s Entertainment,
Inc. is the world?s largest provider of branded casino entertainment through operating subsidiaries. Since its beginning in Reno, Nevada, 68 years ago, Harrah?s has grown through development of new
properties, expansions and acquisitions. Harrah?s Entertainment is focused on building loyalty and value with its customers through a unique combination of great service, excellent products, unsurpassed
distribution, operational excellence and technology leadership.