2010 World Series of Poker
Encyclopedia
The 2010 World Series of Poker was the 41st annual World Series of Poker
(WSOP), held at the Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino
in Las Vegas, Nevada
, and ran from May 28 to July 17. There were 57 bracelet events, culminating in the $10,000 No Limit Hold'em Championship that began on July 5. The November Nine
concept returned for the third year, with the Main Event finalists returning on November 6.
A notable change from 2009 was the revamping of the $50,000 buy-in tournament. From its inception in 2006
through 2009
, it had been a H.O.R.S.E. event in which play rotated between Texas hold 'em, Omaha 8-or-better, Razz, stud, and stud 8-or-better, all played with a limit betting structure. In 2010, it became an "8-game" tournament, rotating between the five H.O.R.S.E. games followed by rounds of no-limit hold 'em, pot-limit Omaha (high only), and limit 2–7 triple draw. Once the final table was reached, play switched exclusively to no-limit hold 'em (as was the case in the 2006 H.O.R.S.E. event). The tournament, now known as The Poker Player's Championship
, was moved to the second spot on the WSOP schedule, preceded only by the restricted Casino Employees No Limit Hold'em event. Thus, the 2010 WSOP open events started with The Poker Player's Championship and ended with the No Limit Hold'em Championship/Main Event.
Championship Main Event began on July 5 with the first of four starting days. Each of the participants at the 2010 WSOP Main Event received 30,000 in tournament
chips for the $10,000 buy-in event. After reaching the final table of nine players on July 17, the final table was delayed until November 6.
The total number of entrants in the 2010 Main Event was 7,319 with a prize pool of $68,798,600 with the winner receiving $8,944,138 for first place. The payout "bubble" was reached during Day 4 at 747 players, each of whom earned a minimum of $19,263. The bubble finisher (748th place) was Tim McDonald, a professional angler and recreational poker player from Lexington, Kentucky
; he received the consolation prize of a guaranteed seat in the 2011 Main Event. Matt Affleck's 15th-place finish in this year’s championship combined with an 80th-place in 2009 broke record for most players outlasted in the Main Event over two years (13,718).
The Main Event was a draw for many celebrities to play including:
Of these celebrities, Northug (653rd), Fenech (585th), and Buffer (478th) made the money.
World Series of Poker
The World Series of Poker is a world-renowned series of poker tournaments held annually in Las Vegas and, since 2005, sponsored by Harrah's Entertainment...
(WSOP), held at the Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino
Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino
The Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino is located off the Las Vegas Strip in the unincorporated area of Paradise, Nevada, USA. It is better known as The Rio and is owned and operated by Caesars Entertainment Inc. The Rio was the first all suite resort in the Las Vegas area...
in Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas metropolitan area
The Las Vegas Valley is the heart of the Las Vegas-Paradise, NV MSA also known as the Las Vegas–Paradise–Henderson MSA which includes all of Clark County, Nevada, and is a metropolitan area in the southern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. The Valley is defined by the Las Vegas Valley landform, a ...
, and ran from May 28 to July 17. There were 57 bracelet events, culminating in the $10,000 No Limit Hold'em Championship that began on July 5. The November Nine
November Nine
The November Nine is the name used to refer to the final nine contestants, or final table, at the Main Event of the World Series of Poker since 2008. The winner of the WSOP Main Event is considered to be the World Champion of Poker....
concept returned for the third year, with the Main Event finalists returning on November 6.
A notable change from 2009 was the revamping of the $50,000 buy-in tournament. From its inception in 2006
2006 World Series of Poker
The 2006 World Series of Poker began on June 25, 2006 with "satellite" events, with regular play commencing on June 26 with the annual Casino Employee event, and the Tournament of Champions held on June 28 and 29...
through 2009
2009 World Series of Poker
The 2009 World Series of Poker was the 40th annual World Series of Poker . It was held at the Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, and ran from May 27 to July 15. There were 57 bracelet events, culminating in the $10,000 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event...
, it had been a H.O.R.S.E. event in which play rotated between Texas hold 'em, Omaha 8-or-better, Razz, stud, and stud 8-or-better, all played with a limit betting structure. In 2010, it became an "8-game" tournament, rotating between the five H.O.R.S.E. games followed by rounds of no-limit hold 'em, pot-limit Omaha (high only), and limit 2–7 triple draw. Once the final table was reached, play switched exclusively to no-limit hold 'em (as was the case in the 2006 H.O.R.S.E. event). The tournament, now known as The Poker Player's Championship
The Poker Player's Championship
The Poker Player's Championship is a $50,000 buy-in event at the World Series of Poker . Added in 2010, it replaced the former $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. World Championship as the highest-stakes mixed games event. As of 2011, it is the highest-buy-in poker tournament featured at the WSOP...
, was moved to the second spot on the WSOP schedule, preceded only by the restricted Casino Employees No Limit Hold'em event. Thus, the 2010 WSOP open events started with The Poker Player's Championship and ended with the No Limit Hold'em Championship/Main Event.
Event schedule
| # | Event | Entrants | Winner | Prize | Runner-up | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $500 Casino Employees No Limit Hold'em World Series of Poker Casino Employee Championship The Casino Employees Championship is one of only three closed tournaments awarding WSOP bracelet's at the World Series of Poker gathering. While most of the events are open to the general public, participants in the Ladies Championship, Seniors Championship, and the Casino Employees Championship... |
721 | Hoai Pham Hoai Pham Haoi Pham is a 43 year old poker dealer at the Village Club Casino, in Chula Vista, CA who won the first event of the 2010 World Series of Poker---the $500 Casino Employee Championship. Pham plays poker primarily online and prefers the games of seven-card stud and pot-limit Omaha.-World Series of... |
$71,424 | Arthur Vea | Results |
| 2 | $50,000 The Poker Player's Championship The Poker Player's Championship The Poker Player's Championship is a $50,000 buy-in event at the World Series of Poker . Added in 2010, it replaced the former $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. World Championship as the highest-stakes mixed games event. As of 2011, it is the highest-buy-in poker tournament featured at the WSOP... |
116 | Michael Mizrachi Michael Mizrachi Michael David Mizrachi is an American professional poker player who won the 2010 World Series of Poker $50,000 Players Championship.. Mizrachi also has two World Poker Tour Titles, and finished 5th in the Main Event of the 2010 World Series of Poker.-Personal life:Mizrachi was born in Miami,... |
$1,559,046 | Vladimir Shchemelev | Results |
| 3 | $1,000 No Limit Hold'em | 4,345 | Aadam Daya | $625,872 | Deepak Bhatti | Results |
| 4 | $1,500 Omaha Hi-Low Split-8 or Better | 818 | Michael Chow | $237,140 | Dan Heimiller Dan Heimiller Daniel Heimiller in is an American professional poker player who won the ½ Hold'em - ½ Seven-Card Stud event at the 2002 World Series of Poker. His total live tournament winnings exceed $2.2 million.... |
Results |
| 5 | $1,500 No Limit Hold'em | 2,092 | Praz Bansi Praz Bansi Pramesh 'Praz' Bansi is a 32 year-old professional poker player from London, England, who has won two bracelets at the World Series of Poker and is part of the London based poker group The Hitsquad.... |
$515,501 | Vincent Jacques | Results |
| 6 | $5,000 No Limit Hold'em Shootout | 358 | Joshua Tieman | $441,692 | Neil Channing Neil Channing Neil Andrew Channing is an English professional poker player and author based in Maida Vale, London. He is the 2008 Irish Poker Open champion.... |
Results |
| 7 | $2,500 2–7 Triple Draw Lowball | 291 | Peter Gelencser | $180,730 | Raphael Zimmerman | Results |
| 8 | $1,500 No Limit Hold'em | 2,341 | Pascal LeFrancois | $568,974 | Max Steinberg | Results |
| 9 | $1,500 Pot Limit Hold'em | 650 | James Dempsey James Dempsey (poker player) James Dempsey known online as Flushy is an English professional poker player from Brighton, England, who won a World Series of Poker bracelet at the 2010 World Series of Poker in the $1,500 Pot Limit Hold'em event.... |
$197,470 | Steve Chanthabouasy | Results |
| 10 | $10,000 Seven Card Stud Championship | 150 | Men Nguyen Men Nguyen Men "The Master" Nguyễn is a Vietnamese-American professional poker player.-Early years:In 1967, he dropped out of school at age 13 and became a bus driver to help support his family. In early 1978, a staunch anti-Communist, he escaped from the Communist regime of Vietnam by boat and sailed with... |
$394,807 | Brandon Adams Brandon Adams (poker player) Brandon Adams is an American university teaching fellow, author, and poker player.-Career:Originally from New Orleans, Louisiana, he now lives in Boston, Massachusetts... |
Results |
| 11 | $1,500 No Limit Hold'em | 2,563 | Simon Watt | $614,248 | Tom Dwan Tom Dwan Thomas Dwan Jr. is an American professional poker player who regularly plays online in the highest-stakes No-Limit Texas hold 'em and Pot-Limit Omaha games, primarily on Full Tilt Poker, where he plays under the screen name "durrrr"... |
Results |
| 12 | $1,500 Limit Hold'em | 625 | Matt Matros Matt Matros Matthew "Matt" Matros is a professional poker player and author from Brooklyn, New York who has won two World Series of Poker events.... |
$189,870 | Ahmad Abghari | Results |
| 13 | $1,000 No Limit Hold'em | 3,042 | Steven Gee | $472,479 | Matt Vance | Results |
| 14 | $1,500 No Limit 2–7 Draw Lowball | 250 | Yan Chen | $92,817 | Mike Wattel | Results |
| 15 | $10,000 Seven Card Stud Hi-Low Split-8 or Better Championship | 170 | Frank Kassela Frank Kassela Frank Kassela is an American professional poker player from Germantown, Tennessee now residing in Las Vegas, who is a two time World Series of Poker bracelet winner. He won both of his bracelets at the 2010 World Series of Poker. First in the $10,000 Seven Card Stud Hi-Low Split-8 or Better... |
$447,442 | Allen Kessler | Results |
| 16 | $1,500 No Limit Hold'em Six Handed | 1,663 | Carter Phillips Carter Phillips William Carter Phillips is a professional poker player from Charlotte, North Carolina who won the 2010 World Series of Poker $1,500 No Limit Hold'em Six Handed event earning $482,774 and is the winner of the European Poker Tour Season 6 Barcelona Main Event earning €850,000 .As of 2010, his total... |
$482,774 | Samuel Gerber | Results |
| 17 | $5,000 No Limit Hold'em | 792 | Jason DeWitt Jason DeWitt Jason DeWitt is a professional poker player from Granger, Indiana who won the 2010 World Series of Poker $5,000 No Limit Hold'em event.- Live poker :... |
$818,959 | Sam Trickett Sam Trickett Sam Trickett is a professional poker player. He started playing poker in 2005 after suffering a knee injury that ended his career as a semi-professional soccer player. Sam soon became a regular in poker events in Sheffield. He started playing also online in $10 Sit ‘n’ Go’s... |
Results |
| 18 | $2,000 Limit Hold'em | 476 | Eric Buchman Eric Buchman Eric Buchman is a professional poker player from Valley Stream, New York, who finished in fourth place at the 2009 World Series of Poker Main Event... |
$203,607 | Brent Courson | Results |
| 19 | $10,000 No Limit 2–7 Draw Lowball Championship | 101 | David Baker | $294,321 | Eric Cloutier | Results |
| 20 | $1,500 Pot Limit Omaha | 885 | John Barch John Barch John Derick "Tex" Barch is a businessman and professional poker player from McKinney, Texas whose rise to fame came in the 2005 World Series of Poker. Barch made the final table at the Main Event, finishing third, behind Steve Dannenmann and eventual champion Joe Hachem.Barch has been playing... |
$256,919 | Klinghammer Thibaut | Results |
| 21 | $1,500 Seven Card Stud | 408 | Richard Ashby Richard Ashby Richard 'Chufty' Ashby is a professional poker player from London. He was given the name 'Chufty' by his friends at University, due to Richard's frequency of using the term "chuffed".... |
$140,467 | Christine Pietsch | Results |
| 22 | $1,000 Ladies No Limit Hold'em Championship | 1,054 | Vanessa Hellebuyck | $192,132 | Sidsel Boesen | Results |
| 23 | $2,500 Limit Hold'em Six Handed | 384 | Dutch Boyd | $234,065 | Brian Meinders | Results |
| 24 | $1,000 No Limit Hold'em | 3,289 | Jeffrey Tebben | $503,389 | J.D. McNamara | Results |
| 25 | $10,000 Omaha Hi-Low Split-8 or Better Championship | 212 | Sam Farha Sam Farha Ihsan Farha is a professional poker player. He is best known for finishing as runner up in the World Series of Poker main event in 2003 and has won three bracelets at the WSOP.-Early years:... |
$488,241 | James Dempsey | Results |
| 26 | $2,500 No Limit Hold'em Six Handed | 1,245 | William Haydon | $630,031 | Jeffrey Papola | Results |
| 27 | $1,500 Seven Card Stud Hi-Low-8 or Better | 644 | David Warga David Warga (poker player) David Warga poker dealer who won a bracelet in the 2002 Casino Employees Championship event at the World Series of Poker and then at the 2010 World Series of Poker won his second bracelet in an open event in the $1,500 Seven Card Stud Hi-Low-8 or Better.... |
$208,682 | Maxwell Troy | Results |
| 28 | $2,500 Pot Limit Omaha | 596 | Miguel Proulx | $315,311 | L.J. Klein | Results |
| 29 | $10,000 Limit Hold'em Championship | 171 | Matt Keikoan Matt Keikoan Matt Keikoan is an American professional poker player who has won two World Series of Poker bracelets; his first was in the 2008 World Series of Poker $2,000 No-Limit Hold'em event and his second was in the 2010 World Series of Poker $10,000 Limit Hold'em Championship.- World Series of Poker... |
$425,969 | Daniel Idema | Results |
| 30 | $1,500 No Limit Hold'em | 2,394 | Mike Ellis | $581,851 | Christopher Gonzales | Results |
| 31 | $1,500 H.O.R.S.E. | 828 | Konstantin Puchkov | $256,820 | Al Barbieri | Results |
| 32 | $5,000 No Limit Hold'em Six Handed | 568 | Jeffrey Papola | $667,433 | Men Nguyen Men Nguyen Men "The Master" Nguyễn is a Vietnamese-American professional poker player.-Early years:In 1967, he dropped out of school at age 13 and became a bus driver to help support his family. In early 1978, a staunch anti-Communist, he escaped from the Communist regime of Vietnam by boat and sailed with... |
Results |
| 33 | $2,500 Pot Limit Hold'em/Omaha | 482 | Luis Velador Luis Velador José-Luis Velador is a Mexican-American professional poker player from Corona, California, who is a two-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner... |
$260,517 | David Chiu David Chiu (poker player) David Chiu is a Chinese American professional poker player, based in Rowland Heights, California, who has won four World Series of Poker bracelets. He is also the winner of the 2008 World Poker Tour's WPT World Championship, and the first winner of the Tournament of Champions of Poker.Chiu was a... |
Results |
| 34 | $1,000 Seniors No Limit Hold'em Championship | 3,142 | Harold Angle | $487,994 | Michael Minetti | Results |
| 35 | $10,000 Heads Up No Limit Hold'em Championship | 256 | Ayaz Mahmood | $625,682 | Ernst Schmejkal | Results |
| 36 | $1,000 No Limit Hold'em | 3,102 | Scott Montgomery Scott Montgomery (poker player) Scott Montgomery is a poker player from Perth, Ontario, Canada who won his first bracelet at the 2010 World Series of Poker in the $1,000 No-Limit Hold’em Event #36 and was one of the final table players in the 2008 World Series of Poker Main Event. He finished in fifth place earning $3,088,012,... |
$481,760 | Mick Carlson | Results |
| 37 | $3,000 H.O.R.S.E. | 478 | Phil Ivey Phil Ivey Phillip Dennis "Phil" Ivey Jr. is an American professional poker player who has won eight World Series of Poker bracelets, one World Poker Tour title and appeared at nine World Poker Tour final tables... |
$329,840 | Bill Chen | Results |
| 38 | $10,000 Pot Limit Hold'em Championship | 268 | Valdemar Kwaysser | $617,214 | Matt Marafioti | Results |
| 39 | $1,500 No Limit Hold'em Shootout | 1,397 | Steven Kelly | $382,725 | Jeffrey King | Results |
| 40 | $2,500 Seven Card Razz | 365 | Frank Kassela Frank Kassela Frank Kassela is an American professional poker player from Germantown, Tennessee now residing in Las Vegas, who is a two time World Series of Poker bracelet winner. He won both of his bracelets at the 2010 World Series of Poker. First in the $10,000 Seven Card Stud Hi-Low Split-8 or Better... |
$214,085 | Maxwell Troy | Results |
| 41 | $1,500 Pot Limit Omaha Hi-Low Split-8 or Better | 847 | Steve Jelinek | $245,871 | John Gottlieb | Results |
| 42 | $1,500 No Limit Hold'em | 2,521 | Dean Hamrick | $604,222 | Thomas O'Neal | Results |
| 43 | $10,000 H.O.R.S.E. Championship | 241 | Ian Gordon | $611,666 | Richard Ashby Richard Ashby Richard 'Chufty' Ashby is a professional poker player from London. He was given the name 'Chufty' by his friends at University, due to Richard's frequency of using the term "chuffed".... |
Results |
| 44 | $2,500 Mixed Hold'em | 507 | Gavin Smith | $268,238 | Danny Hannawa | Results |
| 45 | $1,500 No Limit Hold'em | 3,097 | Jesse Rockowitz | $721,373 | Raymond Coburn | Results |
| 46 | $5,000 Pot Limit Omaha Hi-Low Split-8 or Better | 284 | Chris Bell Chris Bell (poker player) Christopher Bell is an American professional poker player from Raleigh, North Carolina who won the 2010 World Series of Poker $5,000 Pot Limit Omaha Hi-Low Split-8 or Better event. He has also made three final tables at the World Poker Tour... |
$327,040 | Dan Shak | Results |
| 47 | $1,000 No Limit Hold'em | 3,128 | Shawn Busse | $485,791 | Owen Crowe | Results |
| 48 | $2,500 Mixed Event | 453 | Sigurd Eskeland | $260,497 | Steve Sung Steve Sung Suk-Min "Steve" Sung is a Korean professional poker player residing in Torrance, California who is a three time final tablist of World Poker Tour Championships.... |
Results |
| 49 | $1,500 No Limit Hold'em | 2,543 | Michael Linn Michael Linn Michael Jacob Linn is a professional poker player who won event number 49 at the 2010 World Series of Poker for $609,493. He was self taught at no-limit hold'em, however his uncle is bracelet winner Barry Greenstein. Mike Linn is a student at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and is from San Diego,... |
$609,493 | Taylor Larkin | Results |
| 50 | $5,000 Pot Limit Omaha | 460 | Chance Kornuth | $508,090 | Kevin Boudreau | Results |
| 51 | $3,000 Triple Chance No Limit Hold'em | 965 | Ryan Welch | $559,371 | Jon Eaton | Results |
| 52 | $25,000 No Limit Hold'em Six Handed | 191 | Dan Kelly Dan Kelly (poker player) Daniel J. Kelly is an American professional poker player from Potomac, Maryland who won his first bracelet at the 2010 World Series of Poker in the $25,000 No Limit Hold'em Six Handed event, earning $1,315,518.... |
$1,315,518 | Shawn Buchanan Shawn Buchanan Shawn Buchanan is a Canadian poker player from Vancouver, British Columbia who won the World Poker Tour Mandalay Bay Poker Championship in 2007, earning $768,775.... |
Results |
| 53 | $1,500 Limit Hold'em Shootout | 548 | Brendan Taylor | $184,950 | Ben Yu | Results |
| 54 | $1,000 No Limit Hold'em | 3,844 | Marcel Vonk Marcel Vonk Marcel Vonk is a poker player and the first Dutch person to win a World Series of Poker bracelet in No Limit Hold'em . On July 5, 2010, he beat out 3843 opponents to capture the gold bracelet in event #54: $1,000 No-Limit Hold'em, taking home $570,960 USD for the victory.In 2008, Rob Hollink... |
$570,960 | David Peters | Results |
| 55 | $10,000 Pot Limit Omaha Championship | 346 | Daniel Alaei Daniel Alaei Siblings=Devon VafaiDaniel Christopher Alaei is a professional poker player from Santa Fe Springs, California. He is of Assyrian Iranian descent.... |
$780,599 | Miguel Proulx | Results |
| 56 | $2,500 No Limit Hold'em | 1,942 | Tomer Berda | $825,976 | Vladimir Kochelaevskiy | Results |
| 57 | $10,000 No Limit Hold'em Championship (The Main Event) | 7,319 | Jonathan Duhamel Jonathan Duhamel Jonathan Duhamel is a Canadian poker professional from Boucherville, Quebec, best known as the winner of the Main Event at the 2010 World Series of Poker . He is the first Canadian player to capture the Main Event bracelet.... |
$8,944,310 | John Racener John Racener John Racener is an American poker professional from Port Richey, Florida, best known as the runner-up of the Main Event at the 2010 World Series of Poker... |
Results |
Notable Achievements
- Robert and Michael Mizrachi's appearance at the final table of the $50,000 Player's Championship is only the third time in WSOP history that two siblings faced each other at the final table of a WSOP event. In 1995, Howard LedererHoward LedererHoward Henry Lederer is an American professional poker player and brother of poker professional Annie Duke, and author and poet Katy Lederer. On September 20, 2011, the U.S...
and Annie DukeAnnie DukeAnnie Duke is a professional poker player and author who won a bracelet in the 2004 World Series of Poker $2,000 Omaha Hi-Low Split-8 or Better Event and was the winner of the 2004 World Series of Poker Tournament of Champions, where she earned the Winner-Take-All prize of $2,000,000...
made the final table in a pot-limit Hold'em event and in 2002, RossRoss BoatmanRoss Boatman is an English RADA-trained actor, professional poker player and a member of the poker-playing foursome known as The Hendon Mob.-Acting:...
and Barny BoatmanBarny BoatmanBarny M. P. Boatman , is an English professional poker player and the oldest member of the poker-playing foursome known as The Hendon Mob...
made it to the final table in a pot-limit Omaha event. - While the event is called the "Ladies Championship," the WSOP cannot ban men from participating. In past years, a few men have played in the Ladies Championship, but in 2010 at least half a dozen and "some estimates on the floor are that the number of men who entered the event is in the double digits." WSOP Communications Director Seth Palansky called the men "scumbags" and declared, “The good news is at the World Series of Poker, we have the right to refuse service to anyone at any time at any point that we deem, as operators of the event.”
- Robert and Michael Mizrachi were also part of another sibling milestone. They and their brothers Eric and Donny became the first set of four siblings ever to cash in the same Main Event. Eric finished in 718th place on Day 4, Donny finished in 345th place on Day 5 and Robert finished in 116th place on Day 6, while Michael made the final table and played for the title in November, when he finished fifth.
- Breeze Zuckerman won the 2010 Last Woman Standing Cup in the Main Event, finishing 121st and cashing for $57,201.
Main Event
The $10,000 No Limit Texas Hold 'emTexas hold 'em
Texas Hold 'em is a variation of the standard card game of poker. The game consists of two cards being dealt face down to each player and then five community cards being placed face-up by the dealer—a series of three then two additional single cards , with...
Championship Main Event began on July 5 with the first of four starting days. Each of the participants at the 2010 WSOP Main Event received 30,000 in tournament
Poker tournament
A poker tournament is a tournament where players compete by playing poker. It can feature as few as two players playing on a single table , and as many as tens of thousands of players playing on thousands of tables...
chips for the $10,000 buy-in event. After reaching the final table of nine players on July 17, the final table was delayed until November 6.
The total number of entrants in the 2010 Main Event was 7,319 with a prize pool of $68,798,600 with the winner receiving $8,944,138 for first place. The payout "bubble" was reached during Day 4 at 747 players, each of whom earned a minimum of $19,263. The bubble finisher (748th place) was Tim McDonald, a professional angler and recreational poker player from Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
; he received the consolation prize of a guaranteed seat in the 2011 Main Event. Matt Affleck's 15th-place finish in this year’s championship combined with an 80th-place in 2009 broke record for most players outlasted in the Main Event over two years (13,718).
The Main Event was a draw for many celebrities to play including:
- Day 1-a: Ray RomanoRay RomanoRaymond Albert "Ray" Romano is an American actor, writer and stand-up comedian, best known for his roles on the sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond and in the Ice Age film series. He recently starred in the TNT comedy-drama Men of a Certain Age.-Early life:Romano was born in Queens, New York to Italian...
, David Alan GrierDavid Alan GrierDavid Alan Grier , also known as "D.A.G." , is an American actor and comedian known for his work on the sketch comedy television show In Living Color.-Early life:...
, Sara Jean UnderwoodSara Jean UnderwoodSara Jean Underwood is an American model and actress who was chosen as the Playmate of the Month for the July 2006 issue of Playboy magazine and later became Playmate of the Year in 2007. She is a presenter on Attack of the Show!....
, Petter NorthugPetter NorthugPetter Northug Jr. is a Norwegian cross country skier and double Olympic champion. He has 9 World Championship and Winter Olympic gold medals with 13 medals overall, and nine individual FIS Cross-Country World Cup wins with 20 podium places...
, René AngélilRené AngélilRené Angélil, OQ is a Canadian singer and manager. He is the husband and manager of singer Celine Dion.-Early life:Angélil was born in Montreal, Québec, Canada of a father of Syrian descent and a Canadian mother of Lebanese origin...
, Irving LorenzoIrving LorenzoIrving Domingo Lorenzo, Jr., better known as Irv Gotti is an American hip hop and R&B record producer and is the head and founder of The Inc record label.... - Day 1-b: Orel HershiserOrel HershiserOrel Leonard Hershiser IV is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. He is currently an analyst for Baseball Tonight and Sunday Night Baseball on ESPN and a professional poker player for...
- Day 1-c: Scott IanScott IanScott Ian Rosenfeld , better known by the stage name Scott Ian, is an American musician, best known as the rhythm & lead guitarist for the heavy metal band Anthrax. Ian is also the guitarist and a founding member of the crossover thrash band Stormtroopers of Death...
, Shanna MoaklerShanna MoaklerShanna Lynn Moakler is an American model, actress, reality television star and a former beauty queen. She was the winner of the Miss New York USA pageant in 1995 and was originally the first runner-up at Miss USA 1995. She was later crowned Miss USA after Chelsi Smith won Miss Universe...
, Anthony RappAnthony RappAnthony Deane Rapp is an American stage and film actor and singer best known for originating the role of Mark Cohen in the Broadway production of Rent in 1996 and later for reprising the role in the film version and the Broadway Tour of Rent in 2009...
, Sully ErnaSully ErnaSalvatore Paul "Sully" Erna , is an American vocalist and primary songwriter for the American heavy metal band, Godsmack. Erna is also a guitarist and drummer, performing these both on albums and during live shows. He has a daughter named Skylar Brooke Erna and an older sister named Maria.-Early...
, Gabe KaplanGabe KaplanGabriel W. "Gabe" Kaplan is an American comedian, actor, poker commentator, and professional poker player.He was born in Brooklyn, New York...
, Alexia PortalAlexia PortalAlexia Portal is a French actress best known for her role as Béatrice Romand's son's girlfriend in the 1998 film Autumn Tale.-Filmography:*"Navarro"**Jour de colère TV Episode .... Sonya**Manipulation TV Episode .... Sophie...
, Shane WarneShane WarneShane Keith Warne is a former Australian international cricketer widely regarded as one of the greatest bowlers in the history of the game. In 2000, he was selected by a panel of cricket experts as one of the five Wisden Cricketers of the Century, the only specialist bowler selected in the quintet...
- Day 1-d: Bruce BufferBruce BufferBruce Anthony Buffer is the main octagon announcer for Zuffa main events. On UFC broadcasts, he is introduced as the "Veteran Voice of the Octagon." He is the half brother of the well-known boxing and wrestling ring announcer Michael Buffer, and is President and CEO of their company "The Buffer...
, Shannon ElizabethShannon ElizabethShannon Elizabeth is an American actress and former fashion model. Elizabeth is well known for her roles in comedy films such as Scary Movie, American Pie, and Jay And Silent Bob Strike Back. She is also well known for her work in horror films such as Thirteen Ghosts, Cursed, and Night of the Demons...
, Emmitt SmithEmmitt SmithEmmitt James Smith, III is a retired American football player who was a running back in the National Football League for fifteen seasons during the 1990s and 2000s. Smith played college football for the University of Florida, where he was an All-American; thereafter, he played professionally for...
, Audley HarrisonAudley HarrisonAudley Harrison is a British professional boxer from Harlesden, England who fights in the heavyweight division. At the 2000 Olympics in Sydney he became the first British fighter to win an Olympic gold medal in the superheavyweight division. He stands and usually weighs around .Harrison turned...
, Hank AzariaHank AzariaHenry Albert "Hank" Azaria is an American film, television and stage actor, director, voice actor, and comedian. He is noted for being one of the principal voice actors on the animated television series The Simpsons , on which he performs the voices of Moe Szyslak, Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, Chief...
, Jason AlexanderJason AlexanderJay Scott Greenspan , better known by his professional name of Jason Alexander, is an American actor, writer, comedian, television director, producer, and singer. He is best known for his role as George Costanza on the television series Seinfeld, appearing in the sitcom from 1989 to 1998...
, Trishelle CannatellaTrishelle CannatellaTrishelle Cannatella is an American reality TV contestant, Playboy model, and actress.-Early life:Cannatella was born on November 4, 1979, and raised in Cut Off, Louisiana. She is of French and Italian ancestry...
, Sam SimonSam SimonSamuel "Sam" Simon is an American director, producer, writer, boxing manager and philanthropist. While at Stanford University, Simon worked as a newspaper cartoonist and after graduating became a storyboard artist at Filmation Studios. He submitted a spec script for the sitcom Taxi, which was...
, Jeff FenechJeff FenechJeff Fenech is a retired Australian boxer and a three-time world champion who is now a boxing trainer.-Boxing career:...
Of these celebrities, Northug (653rd), Fenech (585th), and Buffer (478th) made the money.
Performance of past champions
| Name | Championship Year(s) |
Day of Elimination |
|---|---|---|
| Doyle Brunson Doyle Brunson Doyle F. Brunson is an American professional poker player who has played professionally for over 50 years. He is the first two-time World Series of Poker main event champion to win consecutively, a Poker Hall of Fame inductee, and the author of several books on poker.Brunson is the first player to... |
1976 1976 World Series of Poker -Preliminary events:-Final table:... & 1977 1977 World Series of Poker The 1977 World Series of Poker was held at Binion's Horseshoe.-Preliminary events:-Final table:... |
2-b |
| Bobby Baldwin Bobby Baldwin Bobby Baldwin is a professional poker player, off-road racer and casino executive. As a poker player, Baldwin is best known as the 1978 world champion, becoming the youngest main event champion at that time.... |
1978 1978 World Series of Poker The 1978 World Series of Poker was held in May 1978 at Binion's Horseshoe. and was the first WSOP that wasn't a winner-take-all prize.Instead the tournament had a progressive prize structure, as follows 50% for the Winner then 20% for second, 15% for third, 10% for fourth and 5% for fifth... |
2-a |
| Tom McEvoy Tom McEvoy Thomas K. McEvoy is a professional poker player and author. He is best known for his win in the 1983 World Series of Poker main event.-Early life:... |
1983 1983 World Series of Poker The 1983 World Series of Poker was held May 9th to May 12th, 1983 at Binion's Horseshoe.-Preliminary events:-Main Event:There were 108 entrants to the main event. Each paid $10,000 to enter the tournament. Doyle Brunson fell just short in his attempt to win the main event for a third time when he... |
2-a |
| Berry Johnston Berry Johnston Berry Enfield Johnston is an American professional poker player. He is best known as the 1986 World Champion, but he has also won four other bracelets at the World Series of Poker in addition to cashes and wins in many other tournaments throughout his career.- Poker career :Johnston won the 1986... |
1986 1986 World Series of Poker -Preliminary events:-Main Event:There were 141 entrants to the main event. Each paid $10,000 to enter the tournament.-Final table:-Other High Finishes:NB: This list is restricted to top 30 finishers with an existing Wikipedia entry.... |
2-a |
| Johnny Chan Johnny Chan (poker player) Johnny Chan rather than his Chinese birth name. born in Guangzhou, China in 1957) is a Chinese American professional poker player. He has won 10 World Series of Poker bracelets, including 1987 and 1988 World Series of Poker main events consecutively.... |
1987 1987 World Series of Poker -Preliminary events:-Main Event:There were 152 entrants to the main event. Each paid $10,000 to enter the tournament.-Final table:-Other High Finishes:NB: This list is restricted to top 30 finishers with an existing Wikipedia entry.... & 1988 1988 World Series of Poker -Preliminary events:-Final table:-Other High Finishes:NB: This list is restricted to top 30 finishers with an existing Wikipedia entry.... |
6 (156th Place) |
| Phil Hellmuth Phil Hellmuth Phil Hellmuth is an American professional poker player. He is best known for holding a record 11 World Series of Poker bracelets, for winning the Main Event of the 1989 World Series of Poker and for his temperamental, "poker brat" personality... |
1989 1989 World Series of Poker The 1989 World Series of Poker was held at Binion's Horseshoe. The 1989 Main Event was won by 24-year-old Phil Hellmuth, defeating defending champion Johnny Chan, and also breaking the record for the youngest player to win the WSOP Main Event . Had Johnny Chan won, he would have tied Johnny... |
1-c |
| Jim Bechtel Jim Bechtel James Gary "Jim" Bechtel is an American cotton farmer and poker player, based in Gilbert, Arizona. He is best known for winning the 1993 Main Event at the World Series of Poker .- Poker career :... |
1993 1993 World Series of Poker -Preliminary events:-Main Event:There were 220 entrants to the main event. Each paid $10,000 to enter the tournament.-Final table:-Other High Finishes:NB: This list is restricted to top 30 finishers with an existing Wikipedia entry.... |
3 |
| Dan Harrington Dan Harrington Dan Harrington is a professional poker player, best known for winning the main event world championship at the 1995 World Series of Poker. He has earned one World Poker Tour title, two WSOP bracelets, and over six million dollars in tournament cashes in his poker career... |
1995 1995 World Series of Poker -Preliminary events:-Final table:-Other High Finishes:NB: This list is restricted to top 30 finishers with an existing Wikipedia entry.-External Links:*... |
4 |
| Huck Seed Huck Seed Huckleberry Seed is an American professional poker player best known for winning the main event of the 1996 World Series of Poker.-Early Life:... |
1996 1996 World Series of Poker -Preliminary events:-Final table:-Other High Finishes:NB: This list is restricted to top 30 finishers with an existing Wikipedia entry.-External Links:*... |
1-c |
| Scotty Nguyen Scotty Nguyen Thuận B. "Scotty" Nguyễn is a Vietnamese American professional poker player who is a five time World Series of Poker bracelet winner, most notably as the winner of the 1998 World Series of Poker Main Event and the 2008 WSOP $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. World Championship... |
1998 1998 World Series of Poker -Preliminary events:-Final table:-Other High Finishes:NB: This list is restricted to top 30 finishers with an existing Wikipedia entry.-External Links:*... |
5 (209th place) |
| Chris Ferguson Chris Ferguson Christopher Philip Ferguson is an American professional poker player. He has won five World Series of Poker events, including the 2000 WSOP Main Event, and the 2008 NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship. On September 20, 2011, the U.S... |
2000 2000 World Series of Poker -Preliminary events:-Main Event:There were 512 entrants to the main event. Each paid $10,000 to enter the tournament.Ferguson had a 10 to 1 chip lead when starting his heads-up vs Cloutier. After a see-saw battle, Ferguson decided to call Cloutier's AQ all-in with his own A9... |
2-b |
| Carlos Mortensen Carlos Mortensen Juan Carlos Mortensen is an Ecuadorian professional poker player of Danish descent and the only Hispanic Main Event winner of the World Series of Poker. Mortensen is known for his loose play, bluffing tactics, and interesting chip-stacking style.Mortensen moved from Spain to the United States in... |
2001 2001 World Series of Poker -Preliminary events:-Main Event:There were 613 entrants to the main event. Each paid $10,000 to enter what was the largest poker tournament ever played in a non-online casino at the time.-Final table:-Other High Finishes:... |
2-a |
| Robert Varkonyi Robert Varkonyi Robert Varkonyi is an American poker player, best known for winning the main event of the 2002 World Series of Poker.-Early years:Varkonyi was born in and raised in New York... |
2002 2002 World Series of Poker The 2002 World Series of Poker was held at Binion's Horseshoe.This edition was historically notable for two reasons. It was the first WSOP in which pocket cams were installed to allow broadcasters to show the players' hole cards, although only for the Main Event... |
4 |
| Chris Moneymaker Chris Moneymaker Christopher Bryan Moneymaker is an American poker player who won the main event at the 2003 World Series of Poker . His 2003 win is said to have revolutionized poker because he was the first person to become a world champion by qualifying at an online poker site... |
2003 2003 World Series of Poker -Preliminary events:-Main Event:There were 839 entrants to the main event. Each paid $10,000 to enter what was the largest poker tournament ever played in a brick and mortar casino at the time... |
3 |
| Greg Raymer Greg Raymer Gregory Raymer nicknamed "Fossilman," is a professional poker player. He is best known for winning the 2004 World Series of Poker Main Event.-Early life:... |
2004 2004 World Series of Poker The 2004 World Series of Poker was held at Binion's Horseshoe after Harrah's Entertainment purchased the casino and the rights to the tournament in January... |
1-a |
| Joe Hachem Joe Hachem Joseph Hachem is a Lebanese-Australian professional poker player known for winning the main event of the 2005 World Series of Poker. He was the first Australian to win the main event, which earned him $7.5 million, then a record for all-time biggest tournament prize.The next year, Hachem won his... |
2005 2005 World Series of Poker The 2005 World Series of Poker opened play on June 2, continuing through the Main Event No Limit World Championship starting on July 7. The conclusion of the Main Event on July 15 marked the close of play, and the largest prize in sports and/or television history at the time was awarded to the... |
1-d |
| Jamie Gold Jamie Gold Jamie M. Gold is an American television producer, a talent agent, and poker player, based in Malibu, California. He is known for winning the 2006 World Series of Poker Main Event and currently divides his time between his activities as president of production for the entertainment company,... |
2006 2006 World Series of Poker The 2006 World Series of Poker began on June 25, 2006 with "satellite" events, with regular play commencing on June 26 with the annual Casino Employee event, and the Tournament of Champions held on June 28 and 29... |
1-b |
| Jerry Yang Jerry Yang (poker player) Xao "Jerry" Yang is an ethnic Hmong poker player from Temecula, California and the 2007 World Series of Poker Main Event champion.Yang started playing poker in 2005. An amateur player at the time, Yang entered the 2007 World Series of Poker after winning a $225 satellite at the Pechanga Resort... |
2007 2007 World Series of Poker The 2007 World Series of Poker began on June 1, 2007. The $10,000 no-limit Texas hold 'em Main Event began on July 6 and was completed on the morning of July 18... |
1-c |
| Joe Cada Joe Cada Joseph "Joe" Cada is an American professional poker player from Shelby Charter Township, Michigan, best known as the winner of the Main Event at the 2009 World Series of Poker .... |
2009 2009 World Series of Poker The 2009 World Series of Poker was the 40th annual World Series of Poker . It was held at the Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, and ran from May 27 to July 15. There were 57 bracelet events, culminating in the $10,000 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event... |
3 |
Other notable high finishes
NB: This list is restricted to top 30 finishers with an existing Wikipedia entry.| Place | Name | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 14th | Hasan Habib Hasan Habib Hasan Habib is a Pakistani American professional poker player.During his early years in Pakistan, Habib was the Pakistan 14-and-under National Tennis Champion. Habib went to America at the age of 18 to study business at the University of Redlands. He also once owned a nationwide chain of video... |
$500,165 |
| 17th | David Baker | $396,967 |
| 18th | Scott Clements Scott Clements Scott Clements is a professional poker player from Mount Vernon, Washington, United States, who has won titles in both World Poker Tour and World Series of Poker events.... |
$396,967 |
| 22nd | William Thorson William Thorson William Thorson is a Swedish professional poker player from Varberg, Sweden and a three time European Poker Tour final table participant who, in the 2006 World Series of Poker Main Event, finished in 13th place.... |
$317,161 |
| 27th | Johnny Lodden Johnny Lodden Johnny Lodden is a Norwegian professional poker player prominently known for his online success and is sponsored by PokerStars... |
$317,161 |
| 30th | Theo Jørgensen Theo Jørgensen Theo Jørgensen is a Danish professional poker player, based in Copenhagen who has made two European Poker Tour final tables.Jørgensen began playing poker in the early 1990s... |
$255,242 |
November Nine
| Name | Number of chips | WSOP Bracelets |
WSOP Cashes* |
WSOP Earnings* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Jonathan DuhamelJonathan Duhamel Jonathan Duhamel is a Canadian poker professional from Boucherville, Quebec, best known as the winner of the Main Event at the 2010 World Series of Poker . He is the first Canadian player to capture the Main Event bracelet.... |
65,975,000 | 0 | 2 | $43,000 |
 John Dolan |
46,250,000 | 0 | 5 | $105,340 |
| Joseph Cheong |
23,525,000 | 0 | 2 | $31,064 |
| John Racener John Racener John Racener is an American poker professional from Port Richey, Florida, best known as the runner-up of the Main Event at the 2010 World Series of Poker... |
19,050,000 | 0 | 10 | $157,528 |
| Matthew Jarvis Matthew Jarvis (poker player) Matthew "Matt" Jarvis is a Canadian professional poker player from Surrey, British Columbia, known for his November Nine appearance in the 2010 World Series of Poker. He earned his first World Series of Poker bracelet at the 2011 World Series of Poker.... |
16,700,000 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
 Filippo Candio |
16,400,000 | 0 | 1 | $3,460 |
| Michael Mizrachi Michael Mizrachi Michael David Mizrachi is an American professional poker player who won the 2010 World Series of Poker $50,000 Players Championship.. Mizrachi also has two World Poker Tour Titles, and finished 5th in the Main Event of the 2010 World Series of Poker.-Personal life:Mizrachi was born in Miami,... |
14,450,000 | 1 | 23 | $2,271,327 |
| Cuong Soi Nguyen |
9,650,000 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jason Senti |
7,625,000 | 0 | 1 | $17,987 |
Final Table
| Place | Name | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Jonathan Duhamel Jonathan Duhamel Jonathan Duhamel is a Canadian poker professional from Boucherville, Quebec, best known as the winner of the Main Event at the 2010 World Series of Poker . He is the first Canadian player to capture the Main Event bracelet.... |
$8,944,310 |
| 2nd | John Racener John Racener John Racener is an American poker professional from Port Richey, Florida, best known as the runner-up of the Main Event at the 2010 World Series of Poker... |
$5,545,955 |
| 3rd | Joseph Cheong | $4,130,049 |
| 4th | Filippo Candio | $3,092,545 |
| 5th | Michael Mizrachi Michael Mizrachi Michael David Mizrachi is an American professional poker player who won the 2010 World Series of Poker $50,000 Players Championship.. Mizrachi also has two World Poker Tour Titles, and finished 5th in the Main Event of the 2010 World Series of Poker.-Personal life:Mizrachi was born in Miami,... |
$2,332,992 |
| 6th | John Dolan | $1,772,959 |
| 7th | Jason Senti | $1,356,720 |
| 8th | Matthew Jarvis Matthew Jarvis (poker player) Matthew "Matt" Jarvis is a Canadian professional poker player from Surrey, British Columbia, known for his November Nine appearance in the 2010 World Series of Poker. He earned his first World Series of Poker bracelet at the 2011 World Series of Poker.... |
$1,045,743 |
| 9th | Cuong Soi Nguyen | $811,823 |