WSOP Event #2 Shatters Records...

[Talking Poker]

Wow. That's a BIG field. check out some of these numbers.... This is crazy.

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This is a brief report to update all media on the breakdown for Event #2 at the World Series of Poker. The $1500 buy-in no-limit hold'em event (Event #2) smashed the all-time record for the largest non-main event tournament, as 2,305 players entered. 2,200 players started the event, and 105 were alternates. All alternates were seated within the first hour.

This is the second-largest poker tournament ever held, shy of the all-time record set in the 2004 WSOP main event (with 2,576 entries). The prize pool for this tournament amounts to $3,180,900. First place will receive $725,405, which is the largest prize money award ever for a non-WSOP main event winner. 200 places will be paid -- for instance, finishing 200th pays $2,225.

Note: All events exceeding 1,500 entries will become three-day (not two-day) events. The large number of players necessitates that more hours are added to the tournament so as to give players enough play to determine the winners. Hence, the next official report will not be released until Sunday, 5 June -- when the final table on Day Three will be completed.

"Record setting" and "biggest of all-time" are expected to be used frequently to describe this year's WSOP. There is quite simply no other event like it, nor has there ever been an event like this in terms of prize money and attendance (number of participants). The amount of money awarded to winners over the next six weeks will approach $100 million dollars, making the WSOP the richest event in all of sports.

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