44th ANNUAL WSOP SETS ALL-TIME ATTENDANCE RECORD
LAS VEGAS (July 8, 2013) – The 44th annual World Series of Poker (WSOP) at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas established a host of new records as poker enthusiasts from 106 nations traveled to Las Vegas to compete in the game’s grandest spectacle. The WSOP remained the industry standard-bearer, with 79,471 entries in 62 events and awarding the second largest prize pool in WSOP history: $197,041,468.

The new all-time high in participants surpassed by 5 percent the previous record of 75,672 set at the 42nd Annual WSOP in 2011.

For the ninth consecutive year, the WSOP generated a total prize pool well in excess of $100 million.

In the 44-year history of the WSOP, the prestigious tournament has now awarded more than $1.8 billion in prize money. When added to the previous total -- $1,642,409,323 – this year’s massive prize pool brings the new all-time money awarded to $1,839,450,791.

Legions of amateur players competed alongside legendary poker pros, Hollywood A-listers and international sports figures to establish the new milestones. Among the notable non-poker playing names competing during this year’s WSOP included: actor Jason Alexander, Norwegian snowboard champion Torstein Horgmo, actor Robert Iler, NHL goaltender Roberto Luongo, Olympic skier Petter Northug, Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps, NBA star Paul Pierce, actor and comedian Kevin Pollak, actor and comedian Ray Romano, Mixed-Martial Arts champion Georges St. Pierre, actress Jennifer Tilly, cricket star Shane Warne and actor James Woods.

The youngest player in this year’s WSOP Main Event was Rayan Chamas, of Dollard-des Ormeaux, Quebec, Canada, who played Day 1-C of the Main Event and was 21 years, 8 days old. The oldest player to participate in this year’s WSOP was 92-year-old William Wachter of Carmel, New York, who also played Day 1-C of the Main Event.

“The WSOP is honored to be the home of poker for all who love the game,” said WSOP Executive Director Ty Stewart. “The strength of poker continues to defy the naysayers and with WSOP.com launching in Nevada and New Jersey before we convene again, we plan to harness this momentum for an even bigger event next year.”

The $10,000 No-Limit Hold’em World Championship – commonly referred to as the WSOP Main Event, attracted 6,352 players, placing it solidly in the range it has been the last seven years, and among the Top 10 poker tournaments ever held.

The prize pool for the 2013 Main Event alone stands at $59,708,800, with the winner’s share amounting to $8,359,531.

Here is a quick statistical overview of the 2013 WSOP official gold bracelet events:

  • Total Entries: 79,471
  • Total Prize Pool: $197,041,468
  • Total Cashers: 8,454
  • Main Event Entries: 6,352
  • Main Event Prize Pool: $59,708,800
  • Largest 1st Place Prize: $8,359,531
  • Average 1st Place Prize: $628,722
  • Average Age: 37.60
  • Average Age of Casher: 36.44
  • Average Age of Final Tablist: 34.07
  • Male Participation: 94.9% (69,393 entries, excludes Main Event)
  • Female Participation: 5.1% (3,726 entries, excludes Main Event)
  • Male Money Won: $136,941,036
  • Female Money Won: $3,423,282
  • Male Cashes: 7,462 (10.75%)
  • Female Cashes: 343 (9.21%)
  • # of Countries Represented: 106
  • # of U.S. States Represented: 50
  • # of Canadian Provinces Represented: 10, plus Yukon Territories
  • Most Entries by Country: 1) United States (57,040); 2) Canada (4,118) 3) United Kingdom (2,678) 4) Russia (1,110) 5) France (1,010)
The 2013 WSOP established new records for:

Biggest single day attendance ever: 6,343 players in Event #6, shattering the record of 4,128 players in Event #29 in 2012 by 54%. Event #6 broke several other records as well, including: A) Largest non-Main Event field size ever (8th largest poker tournament ever), B) Largest $1500 buy-in poker tournament ever held, C) Most unique entrants for a non-WSOP Main Event (5,044 unique entrants), D) Largest 1st place prize for a $1500 buy-in ($1,199,104), E) Largest re-entry event field size ever (6,343)

Largest Seniors event in history: Event #26 attracted a 4,407 players, eclipsing by 7 percent the previous record of 4,128 set last year. Year-over-year event prize money was up 7 percent from last year, jumping to $3,966,300 from $3,715,200.

Largest $10,000 buy-in tournament in discipline other than No-Limit Hold’em: Event #60, the $10,000 buy-in Pot-Limit Omaha championship attracted a record 386 entrants, the most players to ever enter a poker tournament with a buy-in of $10,000 for a game other than No-Limit Hold’em. It was the largest PLO tournament the WSOP has ever held at the $10,000 buy-in level, and the largest field size for a WSOP $10,000 buy-in event outside of the Main Event. Prize pool was a record $3,628,400.

Biggest High-Roller Event ever: 166 Players put up $111,111 for the One Drop High Rollers event (Event #47), easily breaking the record for most players to post a six-figure buy-in in a live tournament. The total prize pool of $17,891,148 was the second largest live prize pool of the year behind the Main Event.

Most events with $1MM+ First Prize: Five distinct events (Event #6, Event #47, Event #52, Event #55 & Event #62) paid the winner more than $1,000,000 in prize money, a WSOP record. Three events (Event #47, Event #55 and Event #62) made multiple millionaires from the prize pool.

Most consecutive annual WSOPs played: Howard “Tahoe” Andrew of Walnut Creek, Calif., extended his record this year for most consecutive years played at the WSOP: 40.

Most cashes at WSOP without a win: Tony Cousineau of Daytona Beach, Fla., extended his record as the player with the most cashes – 57 – without a win. He cashed four times in 2013.

All-time Cashes and Final Tables: Phil Hellmuth added to his record as the individual all-time leader in cashes (99) with his four cashes in 2013.

Here are some other notable tournament records set at the 2013 WSOP:

  • Largest live Omaha High-Low Split Tournament in history (1,014 entries) – Event #20
  • Largest live $1,500 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em tournament in history with single day start (6,343 entries) – Event #6
  • Largest live $1,000 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em tournament in history with single day start (3,164 entries) – Event #3
  • Largest consecutive-days starting field sizes in poker history (combined 8,180) – Event #6 (6,343) and Event #7 (1,837) – Broke record of 6,939 in 2012 by 18 percent.
  • Largest Seniors tournament in poker history (4,407 entries) – Event #26
  • Biggest Seniors No-Limit Hold’em championship prize pool in history ($3,966,300) – Event #26
  • Largest single-start live tournament in poker history (4,407 entries) – Event #26
  • Most bracelet victories for a country, outside the United States – CANADA, 10 victories (besting previous record of 6 set in 2010)
  • Most money won by a woman at one WSOP: Loni Harwood - $874,698 (Loni cashed six times, final tabled three events and won her first WSOP gold bracelet in Event #60)
A comprehensive recap of all tournament statistics will be published following this year’s tournament.