Thursday marked the completion of 29 events in the 2010 World Series of Poker (WSOP), or the halfway point. Fifty-seven bracelets will be awarded overall, culminating in November with the crowning of the Main Event champion. Whether due to the ongoing worldwide recession, a declining poker presence in the United States, or a combination of both, it’s been a mixed bag so far for Harrah’s officials.
Through 29 events of the 2010 WSOP, there have been 30,552 total entries, a rise of 6.6% from last year’s tally of 28,658 at this time. However, this year, we’ve already seen three $1,000 No Limit Hold’em tournaments, triple the number that panned out last year. This year, the total price tag for all tournaments so far is $143,000, up from last year’s tally of $137,500 through 29 events. However, a $50,000 event has already been held in 2010, whereas last year’s priciest tournament through 29 events was $40,000.
Total prize money is down slightly year-over-year. In 2010, the purse through 29 events stands at $53.6 million, down 4.8% from last year’s total of $56.3 to this point. The multitude of $1,000 buy-in events may be to blame for the lower total prize pool, as the three affordable No Limit Hold’em tournaments held so far attracted fields of 4,345, 3,042, and 3,289. Last year’s lone $1,000 No Limit Hold’em tournament, dubbed the “Stimulus Special,” generated a field of 6,012 players, the largest non-Main Event tournament in WSOP history.
The kickoff $1,500 No Limit Hold’em tournament, which began on a Tuesday last year and on a Monday this year, drew a starting grid of 2,791 in 2009 and 2,092 in 2010, a steep drop of 25%. The Ladies’ Event held strong year-over-year, with attendance of 1,054 in 2010 on par with the field of 1,060 that turned out last year. Today marks the beginning of the final non-open WSOP bracelet tournament, the $1,000 Seniors’ Event, which saw a field of 2,707 do battle in 2009.
Here are several events held so far during the 2010 and their attendance compared to 2009:
$500 Casino Employees Event
2009: 866 players
2010: 721 players
Change: -16.7%
$1,500 Omaha High-Low Split
2009: 918 players
2010: 818 players
Change: -10.9%
$10,000 Seven Card Stud World Championship
2009: 142 players
2010: 150 players
Change: +5.6%
$1,500 Pot Limit Hold’em
2009: 633 players
2010: 650 players
Change: +2.7%
$10,000 Seven Card Stud High-Low Split
2009: 164 players
2010: 170 players
Change: +3.7%
$1,500 No Limit Hold’em Six-Handed
2009: 1,459 players
2010: 1,663 players
Change: +14.0%
$2,000 Limit Hold’em
2009: 446 players
2010: 476 players
Change: +9.0%
$5,000 No Limit Hold’em
2009: 655 players
2010: 792 players
Change: +20.9%
$2,500 Limit Hold’em Six-Handed
2009: 367 players
2010: 384 players
Change: +4.6%
$1,500 Seven Card Stud High-Low Split
2009: 467 players
2010: 644 players
Change: +37.9%
Twenty of the 29 bracelets awarded in 2010 have gone to players from the United States, while three each were given to players from Great Britain and Canada. Hungary, New Zealand, and France each captured one bracelet.
Many have dubbed 2009 the “Year of the Woman;” however, the “Year of the Pro” may be a more accurate label for the WSOP. Twenty of the 29 bracelets dished out so far have been to pros, while just six amateurs have collected titles. Five players – Praz Bansi, Men “The Master” Nguyen, Dutch Boyd, Sammy Farha, David Warga, and Matt Keikoan – became repeat gold bracelet winners.