The 55th World Series of Poker (WSOP) started on 28th May and ended on 17th July 2024, boasting an impressive spread of nearly 700 tables. This year’s tournament also featured many new events and showcased several rising talents into the WSOP Main Event community. With records breaking left and right, this year's World Series of Poker has made a clear statement - poker is bigger than ever.
However, this article is about the WSOP Main Event. If you are a professional or aspiring poker enthusiast, then this guide is your way to the next WSOP Main Event.
What Is the WSOP Main Event?
So, what’s all the buzz about and what makes the WSOP Main Event so popular?
The WSOP Main Event is a flagship event that takes place in Las Vegas, Nevada. Held annually since 1970, it has grown into a global phenomenon, attracting thousands of participants globally.
The Main Event is a No-Limit Texas Hold'em tournament, renowned for its massive prize pool, and the highly-coveted WSOP bracelet. As per the previous WSOP Main Events, the buy-in for the 55th WSOP remained at $10,000. Despite that, it managed to draw a record-breaking field of 10,112 entries.
Over the years, the WSOP Main Event has gained a legendary status in the poker community as it has become synonymous with poker excellence.
With each passing year, the WSOP continues to draw record-breaking numbers of entrants reflecting on the booming live poker landscape across countries.
How Can You Qualify for the WSOP Main Event?
There are two ways for participants to qualify for the World Series of Poker (WSOP). One is in-person registration and the other is online. Read on for a complete breakdown of the registration process.
In-Person Registration
Location
To sign up in person, make your way to the registration area in the Champagne Ballroom, located near the entrance of the Paris Convention Center.
What to Bring
Valid photo identification (driver's license or passport)
Caesars Rewards card (obtain one at the Caesars Rewards front desk if needed)
Payment for your buy-in (cash, credit/debit card, cashier's check, casino chips, or WSOP Tournament Account)
Payment Options
Cash
Credit/debit cards (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express)
Cashier's checks made payable to the participant or Paris Las Vegas Hotel and Casino.
Paris or Horseshoe gaming chips
WSOP Tournament Account
Important Notes
Having a Caesars Rewards card ensures a smoother registration and payout process. However, if you lose or forget your Caesars Rewards card, please request for a reprint instead of a new card.
Please note that additional fees may be applicable on transactions done through credit/debit cards and WSOP tournament accounts.
Online Registration
If you are looking for a faster and more convenient experience, online registration is the best option for you. With online registration, you can reserve your seat at the table of an event, make online payments, and avoid the in-person registration lines.
Platform
To register online with WSOP, go to Bravo Poker Live, or GGPoker. After registering online, go through the WSOP FastTrac Online Verification process at the Champagne Ballroom to verify your account.
Printing Seat Cards
There are self-service kiosks throughout the Paris Convention Center that you can use to print your seat cards after online registration.
Online Payment Options
Credit Card: Accepted cards include Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover.
WSOP Tournament Account: Pre-fund your account with cash or casino chips at the WSOP Main Cage.
Bravo TBIC: First-time user needs to complete the in-person verification with a valid photo ID.
Important Notes
If you are paying through a credit card, you must present the same card and a valid photo ID at the World Series of Poker Main Event verification area. Make sure the name on the card matches that on the ID and registration. Once your card has been verified, you can use it for online sign-up till the end of the event.
Also, note that Credit card registrations have a maximum per-event transaction limit of $10,000.
You can ensure a smooth and efficient start to your WSOP journey by choosing the most suitable registration method and coming prepared.
Records Breaking Achievements of the Event
The temperature in Las Vegas isn’t the only thing that has been breaking records. With over 9,200 players participating across the four Day 1s, WSOP Main Event 2024 has secured its place as the second-largest Main Event ever.
Day 1D alone saw a staggering 5,014 players, etching itself as the largest single Day 1 turnout in the history of the WSOP.
Contributing to this record-breaking participation were over 1,500 online qualifiers. GGPoker, including GGPoker ON, sent a significant contingent with 1,100 players, while WSOP Online itself qualified over 400 players within the US. Other online platforms like Winamax, the Canada Poker Network (CPN), and various other satellite networks also played a crucial role in feeding the massive player pool.
The star power at the 2024 WSOP Main Event was undeniable. Poker legends like Phil Ivey, Phil Hellmuth, and Phil Galfond graced the field alongside renowned players such as Daniel Negreanu, Alex Foxen, Stephen Chidwick, ElkY, Alexandra Botez, and the rarely-seen Vanessa Selbst. Former champions Chris Moneymaker, Jamie Gold, Joe Cada, and even the 2023 winner Daniel Weinman, all returned to challenge for another coveted WSOP Main Event bracelet.
The WSOP Main Event also saw a significant improvement in the payout structure. Under the new format, every finalist became a millionaire, with the champion guaranteed a life-changing $10 million minimum prize. Additionally, 15% of the entire field received payouts, with the minimum cash guaranteed at $15,000. This revised payout system ensured a more rewarding experience for a larger portion of participants.
The World Series of Poker champions demonstrated several impressive achievements this year. Data compiled by PRO revealed that the series generated over $212 million in prize money across 63 live bracelet events, attracting a staggering 134,000 participants. With projections indicating a potential total prize pool surpassing $400 million, the 2024 WSOP series is poised to become the largest of all time.
WSOP Winners and Champions
The 2024 World Series of Poker witnessed a champion emerge from a record-breaking field!
Professional poker player Jonathan Tamayo battled his way through a field of over 10,000 players to claim the coveted WSOP Main Event bracelet and a staggering $10 million grand prize. Tamayo, a Texas native, displayed exceptional skill, maneuvering from seventh place at the final table to secure the victory. His win echoed the accomplishment of Pius Heinz in 2011, marking the last time a player climbed from that position to claim the top spot.
Here’s what Tamayo said after winning, "A lot of us start playing it for the money, and then when we get good, we start playing it for the prestige. This is both."
The final three players – Tamayo, Jordan Griff (an amateur), and online poker star Niklas Astedt – emerged after a grueling day of play. Astedt bowed out first, leaving Tamayo and Griff in a heads-up battle. The final hand saw Tamayo, with an 8-3 off-suit, capitalize on a flopped two-pair advantage. Griff, holding a 9-6 off suit and top pair after the flop, was eventually outmaneuvered. When the dust settled, the Ace and 5 on the board sealed Tamayo's fate as the 2024 champion.
Beyond Tamayo's stellar performance, the tournament saw other notable players leave their mark. Boris Angelov, a 27-year-old Bulgarian professional, reached the Final Table with 52,900,000 chips. This deep run added to his already impressive career, which included a prior second-place finish at the EPT Monte Carlo Main Event earlier in 2024, netting him ~$664,000.
Another name to remember is Malo Latinois. This was Latinois' first WSOP qualification, showcasing his strategic prowess as he navigated his way to a strong finish (9th place) at the 2024 Main Event.
Indian Winners at WSOP Main Event 2024
India has a rapidly growing poker scene which contributed to experienced players performing well on the international level. This rise was well illustrated in the World Series of Poker where two Indian champions emerged in the worldwide poker community.
First was Aditya Agarwal, who emerged as the champion in a field of over 1,400 contestants in the $1,000 No-Limit Hold ‘em Freezeout event. This was not just any win, but his first gold bracelet at WSOP which defied any doubts over Agarwal’s skills and solidified his status as one of poker’s premier talents.
While Agarwal won his very first bracelet, Santhosh Suvrana, a player already well-known among Indian and international poker players, made history. Suvrana, a businessman from Bangalore, carved history & won his second bracelet at Event #55, recording an $5,415,152 win. This great achievement demonstrated that Suvrana is no newcomer to the game and affirmed his status as a dominant force in the world of poker.
Besides these champions, many more Indians like Tarun Goyal and Kavin Shah performed well, especially, proving the growth of Indian talents.
Conclusion
The World Series of Poker Main Event 2024 turned out to be a major success with several record-breaking achievements and exceptional rising talents from around the world. The journey of each player from qualification to the final table of the event showcases their skills, strategy, and determination needed to succeed in poker.
For poker lovers and aspiring players, the WSOP Main Event is the ultimate challenge that provides a chance to attain the highest glory in the poker community. Whether you aim to qualify through online satellites, live events, or promotional campaigns, the path to the Main Event is open to all.
Register and join the action on Natural8 India, where you can get a chance to become the next World Series of Poker champion.
Stay updated with the latest news, strategies, and insights into the poker world by following Natural8 India. It is time to commemorate poker and the great success of the World Series of Poker winners. Get your game going!
