The World Series of Poker (WSOP), presented by Milwaukee's Best Light, is the largest, richest and most prestigious gaming event in the world featuring 55 poker events over 47 days with prize money awarded to the tune of $160 million. In 2007, the WSOP attracted more than 50,000 participants from nearly 90 countries around the globe to the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, and with the Amazon Room already bustling with satellites and cash games, it would appear as though this year's outing is to be no different.
Buy-ins for the different events range from $1,000 to $50,000 depending on the event and, unlike other sporting events, anyone 21 years or older can enter and anyone can win. Winning a World Series of Poker tournament is life-changing, making instant stars and instant millionaires out of those with a dream and the determination to outlast the competition. The first chance for the poker world to get their hands on a shiny WSOP bracelet arose this afternoon in the form of the Series' opening event, the $10,000 Pot Limit Hold'Em Freezeout.
Unlike other years, the 2008 WSOP will include a historic format change to the main event with the final table concluding in November, the 117 day delay thereby posing the question 'who will win?' rather than 'who won?'. Also worthy of note are the $10,000 World Championships events, a brand new innovation to this years Series, but one that should produce some star-studded final tables.
"If you've dreamed of becoming a WSOP champion, this is the year to enter," said WSOP commissioner Jeffrey Pollack. "With 55 opportunities to win a bracelet, more $1,500 and $10,000 events than ever before, and same day television coverage of our Main Event Final Table, the WSOP stage has never been brighter."
WSOP trivia:
An amateur has won the past five World Series of Poker Main Event Championships.
The number of hours the WSOP appears on television has risen from 169 in 2003 to 1,823 hours a year in 2007.
In 2007, the ages of players at the final table of the Main Event ranged from 22 to 62.
Only seven players participated in the inaugural World Series. The winner was Johnny Moss, who also won the following year in 1971.
Phil Hellmuth holds the record for bracelets won with 11. Johnny Chan and Doyle Brunson have both won 10.
Phil Hellmuth also holds the record for number of lifetime cashes with 63.
Jamie Gold has earned the most money in World Series history with $12,014,078. Allan Cunningham is the highest placed non main event winner with $6,525,279.
The oldest player to ever win a bracelet was Johnny Moss in 1998 at the age of 80 years. Moss also became the oldest player to appear at a final table in 1991, and then the oldest to cash in 1992.
The oldest player to play the main event was Jack Ury in 2007 at the ripe old age of 94.
The youngest player to win a bracelet is Steve Billirakis in 2007 who was 11 days past his 21st birthday.
Celebrities who have participated in the World Series include Ben Affleck, Tony Curtis, Ricki Lake, Lennox Lewis, Adam Sandler, Montel Williams and Martin Sheen, to name just a few.