2023 WORLD SERIES OF POKER® IN REVIEW:
WEEK SIX HIGHLIGHTS AND WHAT TO LOOK FORWARD TO
LAS VEGAS (July 7, 2023) – It’s official! After 17 years, the 54th annual World Series of Poker (WSOP®) has shattered the previous Main Event® attendance record of 8,773, set in 2006. Players and poker fans from around the world gathered at Horseshoe Las Vegas this week to celebrate the start of the Main Event, featuring Shuffle Up and Deal moments with some of poker’s biggest names. From new champions being crowned to old records being broken, week six offered poker fans a taste of what’s to come as the world sets its sights on the largest Main Event ever in the history of the tournament.
For real-time WSOP coverage, please visit PokerNews.com.
Week 6 Highlights
- Main Event Attendance Record Shattered! The 54th Annual WSOP Continues to Break Attendance Records
Yesterday, July 6, the WSOP has officially shattered the all-time attendance record for its Main Event making the 2023 edition the richest tournament in live poker history. The record falls 17 years after Jamie Gold defeated a crowd of 8,773 entrants in 2006 to take home the prestigious WSOP Bracelet. Later that year the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act changed the poker landscape with many pundits speculating the 2006 record could never be broken.
With more than 9,300 entrants and counting and two more days of late registration available, all eyes turn to the 2023 Main Event Final Table to see who will cement themselves as the undisputed World Champion of Poker – beating out the most players in a Main Event field, ever. The turnout also guarantees that someone in the field will win a “Main Event Seat for Life” or a complimentary entry to the Main Event for the next 30 years. That drawing, amongst all registrants in the 2023 Main Event, will take place shortly after registration officially closes at 4:40 p.m. PST on Saturday, July 8.
- Going for (Jamie) Gold: WSOP Record-Setter Jamie Gold Kicks Off 2023 Main Event
On Monday, July 3, the 54th annual World Series of Poker Main Event officially kicked off inside the newly re-branded Horseshoe Las Vegas with a special appearance by WSOP icon Jamie Gold. A record-setter himself, Gold solidified his name in poker history in 2006, taking home the World Champion title by defeating the then-largest Main Event field ever (8,773 players).
“I would like to wish all of the players nothing but the best of luck in this year’s Main Event,” said Gold. “That is, until they face off with me at the Final Table – then, all bets are off. Now, let’s make some history. Shuffle Up and Deal!”
- Chris Moneymaker Kicks Off Record-Setting Main Event Flight D with Special Guest
On Thursday, July 6, poker legend Chris Moneymaker kicked off the third day of the Main Event with a special “Shuffle Up and Deal” moment before the WSOP broke the record for the largest Main Event field in history. A household name, Moneymaker set the poker world ablaze 20 years ago after winning the Main Event through an online qualifier. Now, the poker legend returns to the felt to try his hand at cementing himself as the greatest player of all time, beating out the largest Main Event field ever.
Following remarks, Moneymaker surprised the crowd, bringing out a special guest – Gene Calden, who became the oldest entrant to ever play the WSOP Main Event at 100 years old. After Calden defeated the poker legend in a tournament in Florida earlier this year, Moneymaker’s team flew Calden to Vegas, sponsoring his 2023 Main Event run.
“I met this guy in West Palm Beach, Florida, and he beat me over and over and over again,” said Moneymaker. I don’t generally like to lose someone who’s over 100 years old, but we knew we had to bring Gene to play the WSOP Main Event. Born in 1923, he will officially be the oldest person to ever play the Main Event. This is proving to be a historical day all around.”
- Phil Hellmuth Extends Lead with Record-Extending 17th Gold Bracelet
After nine cashes at this year’s WSOP, poker legend and hall of famer Phil Hellmuth took home his 17th gold bracelet and $803,818 in Event #72: $10,000 Super Turbo Bounty. Hellmuth’s win extends his lead for the most career bracelet wins, with the late Doyle Brunson, Johnny Chan and Phil Ivey tied for second-most with 10 gold bracelets apiece.
Sticking to tradition, the WSOP icon commemorated his 17th bracelet win with a “circus” of sorts during Thursday’s Flight D of the Main Event. The 17-time WSOP champion, dressed in a getup reminiscent of P.T. Barnum from “The Greatest Showman,” was escorted into the Horseshoe Events Center flanked by 17 WSOP ambassadors dressed as tigers and lions, one for each of his WSOP wins. Trailing Hellmuth was Daniel “Jungleman” Cates inside a cage, dressed as a lion.
What To Look Forward To
- Upcoming Marquee Events
- Event #77: $777 Lucky 7’s No-Limit Hold’em – Flight A – C
- Event #79: $2,500 No-Limit Hold’em
- Event #81: $600 Ultra Stack – No Limit Hold’em Flight A & B
The full 2023 WSOP schedule, including a booking link for discounted participant hotel rates, can be found on WSOP.com. Players should follow @WSOP on Twitter or IG or check WSOP.com for event news and updates.
Upcoming WSOP bracelet livestreams on PokerGO
- Today at 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT – Day 2ABC
- Saturday, July 8 – Day 2D
- Sunday, July 9 – Day 3
- Monday, July 10 – Day 4
- Tuesday, July 11 – Day 5
- Wednesday, July 12 – Day 6
- Thursday, July 13 – Day 7
Sign up for PokerGO so you never miss a WSOP moment. Get $30 off with discount code WSOP30 at checkout. Click here for more details on how to watch the WSOP on PokerGO.
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About World Series of Poker:
Part of Caesars Entertainment’s Caesars Digital operations, the World Series of Poker® is the largest, richest and most prestigious gaming event in the world, having awarded more than $3.63 billion in prize money and the prestigious gold bracelet, globally recognized as the sport’s top prize. Featuring a comprehensive slate of tournaments in every major poker variation, the WSOP is poker’s longest-running tournament in the world, dating back to 1970. In 2022, the event attracted 197,626 entrants from over 100 different countries to the Paris Las Vegas and Horseshoe Las Vegas and awarded more than $347 million in prize money. In addition, the WSOP has formed groundbreaking alliances in broadcasting, digital media and corporate sponsorships, while successfully expanding the brand internationally with the advent of WSOP Europe in 2007 and the WSOP Asia-Pacific in 2013 and the WSOP International Circuit Series in 2015. All WSOP events are subject to the then-current and applicable WSOP tournament rules. For more information, please visit www.wsop.com.
