The World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event has caused a decent buzz for its 2018 edition. The number of entrants was quite significant, too, with 7,784 people signing in for the event. It has been the second-largest attendance rate on record since 2006, ad it constituted a modest, and yet respectable, 9{c118e36310c7bc75bef8f724f80ee0a52cfaf44be22f7e80906142f4c81518da} uptick.
The event managed to cause sufficient stir, adding players from 88 countries across the world. More interestingly still, a single US state also decided to support the event and donated the symbolic $10,000. Meanwhile, quite a few people have walked away with a satisfactory sum. Overall 181 entrants notched up $5,000 in victory money. Not too bad by any stretch.
If you are wondering what the most significant payouts have been, though, you need not do so, as the first nine positions finished with winnings that varied between $1 million for the 9th spot contender and $8,800,000 for the title holder.
The Attendees are Heavyweights
It has been an exciting event so far. Phil Galfond has managed to defeat 236 opponents and to win the $10,000 Pro-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo Championship. His victory brought him $567,788 in ready money.
Another noteworthy achievement was that of Jean-Robert Bellande who walked away from the $5,000 No-Limit Hold’em Six-max with $616,302 in prize money. Mr Bellande had to defeat a number of contenders, well over 621 players.
More noteworthy victories followed, including Chance Kornuth who joined the $3,200 Online High Roller Event, defeating 480 people on his way to victory and clinching the juicy final pot worth $342,000.
More interesting plays transpired from Calvin Anderson who competed at the $10,000 Razz Championship, handling 120-odd opponents and coming out victorious with $309,000 to his name, an achievement that certainly didn’t cost him that much.
Elsewhere throughout the event, people continued to compete with Scott Seiver managing a win during the $10,000 Limit Hold’em Championship. Meanwhile, one of the most massive events had Jeremy Perrin managing a victory in the $365 GiANT No-Limit Hold’em for $250,966.
It has most certainly been interesting to behold the largest poker pow-wow take off in earnest. Of course, the action is not nearly over yet ad we can expect more stellar plays from the pros – established and aspiring.
The main events always come along with sufficient buzz and excitement along with them. The multiple competitions that take place during the meeting of pros keep people excited and show the beauty of the game and also help consolidate movements for the liberalization of the market, which may indeed see better times with the legal let-up that many states are now conceding.
The Future of (Online) Poker
While it’s true that so far only a handful of poker operations have been launched in the country, the WSOP-backed event is one of the mainstays of the industry. With other organizations, such as Global Poker, and the Poker Alliance making a strong push towards the liberalization of the entire market. Certainly, much remains undecided, but we can all revel content in the knowledge that things are finally changing for the better.
