2008 World Series of Poker

39th Annual World Series of Poker Main Event
Day: 5
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Event Info

2008 World Series of Poker

Event Info
Buy-in
$10,000
Entries
6,844
Players Left
9
Next Payout
Place 9
$900,670
Level Info
Level
33
Blinds
120,000 / 240,000
Ante
30,000

Show Me the Money

[user40108]
[user40108]
This year's WSOP Main Event drew a total of 6,844 entrants creating a total prize pool of $64,333,600. It's worth noting that $32,633,446 (just over 50 percent) of that prize money will be awarded to those who make the final table.

This "top heavy" distribution is in stark contrast to last year's main event in which just under 37 percent ($22,019,901 of the $59,784,954) was earmarked for the top nine finishers.

Jerry Yang took home 13.8 percent of the total prize money last year while this year's champion can look forward to bagging 14.2 percent of the total prize pool.

To walk away with $100,000 or more in 2007, you had to finish in 81st place, essentially outlasting 98.7 percent of the field, whereas this year you'd need to outlast over 99 percent of the field and place 63rd or better to score that same hundred grand.

Here is a quick snapshot of the last two years.

2008 Main Event

Champion - $9,119,517
Runner Up - $5,790,024
3rd Place - $4,503,352
4th Place - $3,763,515
5th Place - $3,088,012
6th Place - $2,412,510
7th Place - $1,769,174
8th Place - $1,286,672
9th Place - $900,670

2007 Main Event

Champion - $8,250,000 - Jerry Yang
Runner Up - $4,840,981 - Tuan Lam
3rd Place - $3,048,025 - Raymond Rahme
4th Place - $1,852,721 - Alex Kravchenko
5th Place - $1,255,069 - Jon Kalmar
6th Place - $956,243 - Hevad "Rain" Khan
7th Place - $705,229 - Lee Childs
8th Place - $585,699 - Lee Watkinson
9th Place - $525,934 - Philip Hilm