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Players fill tables during the first day of the main event on Friday at the hold ‘em tournament at the World Series of Poker at the Rio.
Published Monday, July 6, 2009 | 1:33 p.m.
Updated Monday, July 6, 2009 | 8:40 p.m.
Fast facts
- Entrants: 6,494
- Total prize pool: $61 million
- Winner's circle: The top 648 players will win at least $21,365, according to tournament director Jack Effel. Each of the nine players at the final table will make at least $1.26 million, with the winner claiming $8.55 million.
Main Event past winners
- 2000: Chris Ferguson ($1.5 million), 512 entrants
- 2001: Carlos Mortensen ($1.5 million), 613 entrants
- 2002: Robert Varkonyi ($2 million), 631 entrants
- 2003: Chris Moneymaker ($2.5 million), 839 entrants
- 2004: Greg Raymer ($5 million), 2,576 entrants
- 2005: Joe Hachem ($7.5 million), 5,619 entrants
- 2006: Jamie Gold ($12 million), 8,773 entrants
- 2007: Jerry Yang ($8.25 million), 6,358 entrants
- 2008: Peter Eastgate ($9.1 million), 6,844 entrants
Sun Coverage
Sun Archives
- Poker pro Annie Duke doesn’t like her nickname (7-1-2009)
- Bach pulls out marathon HORSE victory (7-1-2009)
- Poker’s HORSE a serious game (6-26-2009)
- Mike Caro: 'Mad genius' of poker (6-19-2009)
- WSOP props odds offer insight into tournament (6-12-2009)
- Behind the scenes, tournament has stable of 850 dealers (6-6-2009)
- Like war games, but for poker (2-10-2009)
- A poker survival skill: Cash game play (2-4-2009)
- Wit, wisdom in the highs and lows (1-6-2009)
A gold bracelet wasn't necessary to read the faces of hundreds of poker players turned away from registering for the World Series of Poker main event Monday.
More than 500 angry poker players were denied entry into the fourth starting day of the $10,000 buy-in No Limit Texas Hold 'em event, including top professionals such as five-time gold bracelet winner Ted Forrest and six-time gold bracelet winner T.J. Cloutier.
WSOP officials accepted 2,809 players Monday before closing registration about two hours before the noon start time of day 1D of the tournament.
"We do everything we can in our power to give everyone an opportunity to play in this event," WSOP communications director Seth Palansky. "We're sorry we couldn't accommodate everyone, but those waiting until the last minute, as in life, sometimes come up short."
Registration opened for the main event on March 1 and the tournament utilizes four "first" days to accommodate nearly 12,000 players.
But only 1,116 players competed on day 1A on Friday, 873 on 1B Saturday and 1,696 on 1C Sunday.
"July 4th is typically slow, so that is not unexpected," Palansky said. "But what is surprising is that people really do show up within an hour of the start time and expect that there will be no issues."
Selling out an event is nothing new for the WSOP as the final start day of the main event has closed early every year since 2006. Ten smaller events reached their maximum entry limit this summer.
As crowds swelled Monday morning, the WSOP set up additional poker tables inside Buzio's at the Rio and took over the regular poker room on the main floor of the casino to accommodate the large turnout.
"We do not want to be in the business of turning people away," said WSOP commissioner Jeffrey Pollack. "This is not our preferred outcome, but operationally we are at capacity today."
Yet despite those efforts and numerous apologies from Pollack, the poker players denied entry into the main event did not feel any consolation.
"I've wasted airfare and lots of money on hotels," said Trevor McCarthy of Melbourne, Australia. "This is my first time in Vegas and I don't think I'll ever be back if they run it like this."
The most players ever to compete in the main event occurred in 2006 with 8,773 entrants. Last year, the main event attracted 6,844 players.
WSOP officials announced Monday night that 6,494 players will compete for $61 million in prize money, with the champion winning $8.55 million.
"We are sympathetic for those who did not get in, because we wanted to accommodate all the players and break last year's number of entrants," Palansky said. "So it is disappointing on our end in that sense, but there is a reason there are four start dates. There are capacity issues. When you physically run out of tables and chairs you can't do anything about it."
Palansky said Pollack and other tournament directors did discuss adding an extra start day or placing 10 players at each table instead of nine.
Ultimately, though, in order to maintain fairness and equality, Pollack made the decision around 2:30 p.m. not to change the format of the tournament and to officially turn away the late registrants.
"Just so we are clear, we are not happy about what has happened today, but from an operational standpoint we have done everything that could have done to accommodate everyone today," Pollack said. "… I apologize and I promise you we will deal with this and it will not happen again."
Carnival lasts all year at the Rio. With a float occasionally passing overhead and dropping beads while feathered dancers fire up the gamblers below, the Rio tries to keep its 120,000-square foot casino jumping with excitement. Special Brazilian mixed-drinks are also served throughout the casino. The hotel suites tend to be larger than similar priced rooms on the Strip and many offer excellent views with floor to ceiling windows.
The Rio offers some quality shows like "Penn & Teller" and "Chippendales." Many come to the Rio for the nightlife at the VooDoo Lounge, located on the 51st floor, or McFadden's Irish Pub on the casino level.
Others come for a bit relaxation at the Rio Spa or pool area and still others come to shop at the hotel's 60,000 square feet of shops. In each of these endeavors, the Rio attempts to make the experience a bit more fun and spontaneous.
The Rio also offers guests a variety of dining choices from all-American food at the All-American Bar & Grille to Gaylord India Restaurant for something a little spicier and even Carnival World Buffet for the indecisive.
Steve Silver can be reached at 948-7822 or steve.silver@lasvegassun.com. Peter Weisz contributed to this report.
Just shows that Harrah's doesn't have the players interest in mind.
Too bad they can't run it without players.
Who cares? People are trying to meet ends in Vegas and we need to feel sorry for players who couldn't pay $10,000 to register for a poker tournament? Really? Pathetic.
Rules are in place for a reason. If they really wanted to be in the event they could have registered earlier instead of waiting. Whatever I say.
Once a poker flea, always a poker flea. I'm actually surprised these crybabies didn't get their way.
tvegas, I'm curious: What do you think should have been done differently?
When they turn away business like this, I don't want to hear them cry that business is bad or that the local economy is in crisis. They could have accommodated them. It's not like rules are never broken in Nevada. Corruption is the #1 industry.
Put it this way: If a restaurant is closed, and everyone has cleaned up and is ready to go home, and then a busload of people suddenly show up, that restaurant should re-open and make the money. If not, then the restaurant has no business claiming that business is bad.
The only thing they did wrong was to hold day 1 of the main event over 4th of July weekend. On the other hand I hear complaint after complaint about Harrahs at the tables I sit at all over town every year of the W.S.O.P. ever since Harrahs took over. That's why I decided not to play any events this year. It's time for another location to take over. Harrahs destroyed the W.S.O.P.
>>Harrahs destroyed the W.S.O.P.
thus keeping their string intact.
Gary Loveman, CEO of Harrah's, had $92.3 million in total compensation in 2008.
Yes, obviously he is a gaming genius, really dedicated to excellent customer service, and so deserving of his compensation package. NOT!
People, especially locals, should wake up and take their money elsewhere.
a bunch of whiners - dont wait until the last minute. There was plenty of time to register in advance.
I have no stake in the poker community, but there seem to be a lot of hot emotions here. Can anyone explain specifically what Harrah's has done wrong with the WSOP and if not Harrah's, who should host the WSOP?
Also, should there be no rules or cutoffs for registrations? What do you all propose? Four months and four start days seems like plenty of chances to sign up.
SteveSilver - totally agree with you. There were 4 available days to sign up as well as plenty of notice in the poker media that Day 4 was going to be a sellout.
Jeffrey Pollack has been a good commissioner and he's done everything that he can within reason to accomodate the poker player.
"But only 1,116 players competed on day 1A on Friday, 873 on 1B Saturday and 1,696 on 1C Sunday." And on the fourth day, they accepted 2,809 players. The only problem I see is that too many waited until the last minute when there were plenty of open seats on the first 3 days. It sounds like the house worked hard to accommodate as many as they could. I bought some tickets to a huge show at the Orleans Arena to be held this August. I bought them last November. Really good seats. Do you think those who haven't bought yet really expect the same seats, If they get in at all. I've never had any problems with Harrahs, Their service is excellent over the years I've done business with their hotels, and I'm a VERY low roller.
sign up started march 1st to me that seems plenty of time!!not last thing monday morning
Tipical from a tourist, but for a couple pros. I wonder if their broke?
Well, so much for a depressed economy among all these folks.
Steve Silver
it would be no big deal to add an extra day of registration.
if it was only a couple of people I would say no ..but 500. Thats an extra $5 million in the prize pool and a couple of hundred thousand to Harrah's.
Not to mention added FBR revenue.
Easy call
PS
Just call it Late Registration for Patriots
tvegas, they certainly could have added an extra day, but then what does that do to the 6,000 people who signed up on time?
Also, should they just not have registration rules? It's hard to fault the WSOP on this one. Four months and four start days. If poker is that important to these 500 people, then sacrifice the fireworks and hotdogs for a day or just simply play on Friday or Sunday instead.
Thumper, I enjoy the rapport with readers and I am actually at the Rio right now.
I just think it's hilarious that people are actually whining about getting turned away. If something is that important to you, then you register as early as possible.
"tvegas, they certainly could have added an extra day, but then what does that do to the 6,000 people who signed up on time?"
They have an extra $5MM to play for...there is no penalty for them
This is not a freebie they are paying big money to play...
I see your point tvegas. So would today be the day of 1E or would you have played the extra day overnight?
Then do days 1C, 1D and 1E all filter into 2B or do you add a 2C session?
Moot point.
They could have done it anyway they wanted..except they didn't.
Jeff was thinking like an employee instead of a businessman...he should be replaced with a more creative individual..maybe that's why he is an employee I guess.
Harrahs has 7 properties in Vegas. They couldn't set up satellite rooms to accommodate the players? Someone drooped the ball on this one bigtime.
Are you people really serious, the Rio made available 4 days to play in day 1, with each day being able to hold 2800 players. But a bunch of people, for whatever reasons, be it to save money on hotels, or whatever else they had going through there heads, decided to skip 3 non sell out days, even after the last day one has sold out for the last 4 years. Noone is to blame for this except the players.
Harrahs is the worst in this case what can you do I think the pros just figured they were above rules. but harrahs trashed this tourney...whats is amazing is how rich this country is all thos peopl with 10 grand to burn...really only about 1000 have a real chance
The pro poker players are businessmen and women and make most of their money from websites and appearances, not playing poker. Harrahs is a corporate hotel/casino company...do you expect them to act like a charity? Poker is the worst thing that ever happened to casinos. The house makes no money compared to other games, the players are generally obnoxious, the game is boring and long. I am a gambler...I want to make or lose money...fast! I can't wait until poker goes the way of disco. Casino poker was almost extinct 15 years ago...it will be again. At the very least poker players should be banished to their little room so they can't come out into the casino and screw up blackjack games with their know-it-all poker playing attitudes.
tell them to get over it and spend their $10,000 on the Sports Legends Challenge instead!
Bad mouth Harrah's all you want, and I am not a Harrah's employee. The facts are plain and simple, Harrah's/WSOP made available over 11000 seats for this main event. For whatever reason they want to give, 3300+ decided they wanted to play day 1d. By doing so, they took a gamble, big name previous bracelet winners included, that they would get a seat on day 1d. None of them were forced to do this ( with the exception of people who won single table and mega satellites on Sunday). Complain about the juice Harrah's takes on tournaments, or the $5 rake they take in live action. But nobody who knows squat about poker can make a legit complaint about 500 people who gambled on getting a seat on day 1d and failed to get one.
The WSOP has created the Mecca for poker players in Las Vegas. Several other casino's have jumped on the band wagon with their own tournaments bring in more poker players. Harrah's has turned Las Vegas into the poker capital of the world.
All I know is that if I was a boss at harrahs and found out that the people running the tournement could not accomadate 500 people who were willing to pay $600 in juice which would make the company $300,000 I would not be happy. There was a simple soultation to this problem, If they had the 500 late entries start play after the 3rd level(about 7pm) there would be enough tables to accomadate that group and they could have played 4 levels and come back the next day and played with the field from 1a and 1b. These players would not have minded playing till 4am and starting back at noon.
"I just think it's hilarious that people are actually whining about getting turned away."
Why is objectivity dying? Call me old school, but reporters should never use the words "I think."
Captjack, is there a problem with my story?
I openly express my opinions in the comments section after the story is posted. I've found the majority of readers appreciate knowing reporters aren't just mindless, emotionless machines churning out stories. It also makes my stories more interactive, rather than the "old school" style of reporting in which the writer is on a pedestal preaching to the readers.
Nothing is wrong with the story. That's the point. If you want to believe your credibility doesn't suffer by openly opining in the comments section, you're a fool.
Just because you're writing in the comments section rather than the story body means nothing. The idea that these two sections are somehow divorced is insane. Why didn't you write in your story "I just think it's hilarious that people are actually whining about getting turned away?"
Because that breaks the most basic rules of journalism -- you don't have an opinion, you don't write about what you think, you don't think "it's hilarious." But it's ok to spout your opinion in the comments? Under that logic, who'd you vote for? What political party do you belong to? What do you think of Obama's health plan? It's in the comments, so feel free to write about it.
Don't be dumb. You know better.
And frankly, telling a story devoid of opinion isn't standing on a pedestal, it's objectivity. If the Sun is becoming opinion media, it should be stated openly.
right now I think you should probably go take your blood pressure medications and simmer down.
How did you tie poker into politics? I'm curious about that one.
You miss the point.
You wouldn't opine about politics or any other hot button issue, even in the comments section, so why are you talking about your thoughts on anything you cover?
I cover sports. If I were covering the cops beat, local government, etc you probably wouldn't hear a thing from me. This is the sports section, though. We all have opinions and I say express them openly, that is what makes sports so much fun to write about
Of course, there were three other major tournaments running at the same time as the WSOP - so it's not like these latecomers had any shortage of poker to play. Not to mention the cash games were insanely soft, filled up with people who busted out of the main events but still thought they're better than they actually are.
I've been working the WSOP since it started this year and let me say a couple of things. First of all Harrah's owns the WSOP so any money lost is their own fault, if you think the big boss wasn't there and knew this decision you are crazy, there is a huge staff for the wsop including Harrahs employee's and managers from other locations. Second, I was there on Wed when they had the most players and it was a Zoo. There was three huge convention rooms filled with poker tables and not an empty seat to see. Now, all of you that say they should have gotten more room or played later forget about the labor aspect. By the time the end of the night comes most of these dealers, security guards, porters, servers and bosses have been there for nearly 12 hours. This includes harrah employees that are pulling a double shift from their regular gig. Also, do you think with all the tables set up that they have a bunch just sitting around? They raid all of their properties for every available chair, employee and piece of equipment possible to set up the main event. From what i've seen this was run very well and they took care of what they needed, oh and for those bracelet winners i've seen Scotty Nguyen, and Mike Matusow since the event started, If you had something very important planned that only occured once a year, would you wait to the last day to sign up?
They are better off they saved their money. 99% of ANYONE PLAYING POKER NOW IS JUST PLAYING IT BC THEY SAW IT ON TV AND NOW POKER IS "IN". THEY WATCH and think they are experts all of a sudden.
sheep to the wolves
10 YEARS AGO IF YOU SAID YOU PLAYED POKER YOU WERE A LOSER. NOW BC ITS IN ITS COOL TO LOSE YOUR MONEY.
now theres just more suckers at the tables so pros mop up