The 37th World Series of Poker continues to shatter attendance and money standards at Harrah's Rio Hotel and Casino, even as the field for the $10,000 buy-in Texas No-Limit Hold'em event keeps thinning out. The record 8,773 main-event competitors created an $82.5 million net prize pool, an increase of $29.5 million over last year's $53 million. Overall, the six-week tournament has brought in $154 million compared to $103 million in 2005. The figure doesn't include money spent on other activites such as food, lodging and attractions, as well as gambling outside the Rio card room. The WSOP main event will award its Top 12 finishers with at least $1.1 million apiece. Thirteenth, 14th and 15th-place each will pay $907,128. The leading 873 players -- 10 percent of the field -- will cash, with 873rd receiving $14,597. A Wisconsin beer company will host a "second chance" tournament for those who finish 874th through 883rd -- the "bubble" players. The winner will receive a seat in the 2007 WSOP, valued at $10,000, plus a year's supply of brew. Participants, who will be determined Friday night, will gather at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in the Rio's cavernous Amazon Room, where the WSOP is being held. The WSOP completed its second session at midnight Wednesday, with the field of 1,637 being whittled to 606. Another 570 players advanced on Tuesday. Former champions Bobby Baldwin, Robert Varkonyi, Tom McEvoy, Greg Raymer and Huck Seed were among entrants who failled Wednesday in efforts to lasso another title. Others going out included Robert Mizrachi, Eric Mizrachi and Allen Goehring. Aaron Kantor, last year's fourth-place finisher, also busted out, as did Rene Angelil, Celine Dion's husband. Australian Joe Hachem, the defending champion who has become such a household name that he's moving to Beverly Hills to pursue a raft of opportunities, remained alive entering Thursday's action. Also moving on was Benny Binion, namesake and grandson of the legendary WSOP founder. Popular Daniel Negreanu was among survivors, along with Cyndy Violette, Kathy Liebert, Ted Forrest, Freddy Deeb and 2006 gold bracelet winners John Gale and Jeff Cabanillas. Negreanu was third among the day's chip leaders and sixth overall with 331,000. Chip leader Dmitri Nobles has 593,000 and is followed by Yuriy Kozinskiy, 443,000; Jon Lane, 405,400; Ken Jacobs, 375,300; and Daniel Pellitier 335,000. Josh Arieh became the first pro to be penalized for using profanity, joining Tinseltown comedians Brad Garrett and Louie Anderson. Arieh lost 10 minutes of playing time for uttering the f-word, but quickly caught up and is among tournament survivors after the first six days. |
