Welcome to Day 1a of the 2019 WSOP $10,000 Main Event!
The most hopeful day on the poker calendar has arrived!
Today, the first of three starting flights in the 2019 World Series of Poker $10,000 Main Event will get underway at 12 noon local time. Players from around the world will compete for the most coveted title in the game, that of World Champion. Anyone with the $10,000 buy-in and a dream could potentially win the life-changing fame and fortune that this truly unique event guarantees every year.
All four tournament rooms – the Amazon, Brasilia, Miranda, and Pavilion – will soon be packed with thousands of people, from fans to dealers, including amateurs, poker pros and everyone inbetween. First timers will compete against legends like Daniel Negreanu, Phil Ivey, Phil Hellmuth, and reigning champion John Cynn.
This year is particularly special as it’s the 50th Annual WSOP, and there is a buzz in the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino about just how many players will enter across the entire Day 1. Will we see records broken? Time will tell.
While today marks the first opportunity for players to jump into the action, there will be more over the coming days. Days 1b and 1c will take place at 12 noon on Thursday and Friday respectively, while players also have the option of late registering as long as signed up before the start of either Day 2 flight (11 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday.)
Last year, the 49th Annual WSOP Main Event was the culmination of a record 78 bracelet events. The Main Event attracted 7,874 players, which made it the second-largest turnout in tournament history behind 2006’s 8,773 players. John Cynn ultimately came out on top after the longest heads-up battle in WSOP history to capture an $8.8 million first-place prize.
More than 7,000 players are expected to participate in the Main Event, while some experts believe it could even cross the 8,000-mark. Early numbers from the 2019 WSOP indicate that it’s possible we see something truly spectacular. Through 66 events, this year's WSOP shattered attendance records as 147,334 entrants have played in WSOP gold bracelet events. In fact, through 66 events, this year’s participation exceeded the first 36 years of the WSOP combined; 147,334 entries versus 602 events from 1970-2005 totaling 125,628 entries.
With 90 events in total, poker has never been bigger at the World Series of Poker and the Main Event is the jewel in the crown of this legendary festival. PokerNews will bring you the drama, excitement, controversy, twists and turns that are associated with this magical event from start to finish as we spend the next fortnight finding out who the 2019 World Champion will be.
