Seniors WSOP Championship Shatters Attendance & Prize Pool Records
This year's Seniors World Series of Poker Championship has set an all-time attendance record. This year's tournament attracted a whopping 2,707 entries, the most ever for any seniors' competition in poker history.The previous high mark was set at last year's World Series of Poker, when there were 2,218 entries. These figures represent a 22 percent increase year-over-year. A record $2,463,700 prize pool was set for this event as well, with first place paying a record $437,358.
The first Seniors World Series of Poker Championship was played at the 1993 World Series of Poker. Since then, the WSOP has hosted a special tournament for seniors that is open to any player aged 50 or higher on the day the tournament begins.
"We are very honored and humbled by the overwhelming turnout today," said Jeffrey Pollack, President and Commissioner of the WSOP. "The WSOP attracts players of all ages, from their early 20s to players in their 90s. The Seniors Championship is truly special and this year's winner will hopefully be enjoying retirement with a nice 437-times return on their $1,000 entry."
Since Harrah's took ownership of the WSOP in 2004, the Seniors Championship has seen attendance skyrocket from 519 entrants to this year's 2,707, a more than five-fold increase. The accompanying table shows the last six years of entrants for the Seniors Event at the WSOP.
This is but one of several records which have been shattered at the 2009 World Series of Poker. Several events have attracted the largest fields in their history. Many events also generated the largest prize pools in history. The bottom line is that despite concerns about the global economy, the World Series of Poker continues to be a popular destination and ambition for poker players of all ages, all around the world.
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by Seth G. Palansky
posted by Kurt at 7:59 AM
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