June 9, 2007
By Nolan Dalla
The World Series of Poker presented by Milwaukee’s Best Light entered its second week.  The world’s biggest and richest sporting spectacle shows no signs of slowing down.  Today, the largest number of poker players ever to enter a single day of events filled the Rio All-Suites Casino and Hotel in Las Vegas.

The two tournaments held today combined for a record 3,009 entries.  The $1,500 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em event attracted 2,628 entries.  The $2,500 buy-in H.O.R.S.E. championship attracted 381 players (which was also the largest H.O.R.S.E. tournament in history). No single day in the 38-year history of the WSOP has been busier.  In fact, the huge turnout is believed to be the biggest tournament day if any poker event held anywhere.

“We are off to a terrific start this year,” said WSOP Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack.  “I continue to believe this will be the best World Series of Poker ever.”

The record number bested the old mark by 11 participants.  Just seven days ago 2,998 tournament players registered for the day’s events.  Both tournaments on this day are expected to play through Monday, June 11.  First place in Event #15 will pay $637,254 and 270 players will receive prize money.  First place in Event #16 will pay $238,881 and will pay 876 places.

The largest poker tournament in history remains the 2006 WSOP $10,000 buy-in championship event, with 8,773 players.  However, that official “Day One” was divided across four separate dates, due to the enormous size of the field.

Jason Warner wins a Event 12 in a New York Duel

The winner of the $1,500 buy-in Six-Handed No-Limit Hold’em World Championship was Jason Warner from Vancouver, BC (Canada).  He is a 22-year-old sales associate working in a hardware store and (was/is) an aspiring professional poker player.  

This was Warner’s second time to enter a WSOP event.  A few days ago, he busted out of the $2,000 buy-in no-limit hold’em tournament.  First place today paid $481,698.

Warner works at a home supply store named “Surrey New and Used” located in Surrey, BC.  The store is similar to Home Depot or Lowe’s in the U.S.  No word yet on whether or not Warner plans to continue working after winning nearly half-a-million dollars.

Warner has been playing poker regularly at the River Rock Casino in Richmond, BC over the past year.  He is single.

Warner wore a New York Yankees baseball cap while seated at the final table.  Oddly enough, his heads-up opponent was David Zeitlin – from New York City.  The runner up collected a very respectable $269,778.

This was the third final table broadcast over the official WSOP website – www.worldseriesofpoker.com.  The entire final table was broadcast with hole cards seen by the home audience.  Expert commentary was provided by Scott Preston (who is fantastic doing the play-by-play) and the “Clown Prince of Poker,” Mike Laing – who stood in for Brian Wilson (also doing first-rate work).  The broadcast is truly revolutionary in the depth of content and coverage and is “must viewing” for any poker fan.

The oldest player of the final six was 39-years.  The youngest was 21.

Joe Awada, former circus juggler turned poker pro, finished ninth.  He won a WSOP gold bracelet in 2004.

Arguably tournament poker’s hottest player over the first half of the year, J.C. Tran from Sacramento, CA, cashed in 15th place.  Tran has over $5 million in lifetime tournament winnings – but less than ten percent of that impressive sum has been won at the WSOP. 

Seven-time WSOP gold bracelet winner finished in 48th place in this event.  He now has 43 lifetime cashes (ranked 8th all-time).  He has won over $3M at the WSOP (ranked 16th all-time).

At least two poker players have already cashed three times at this year’s World Series – Steve-Paul Ambrose and Tony Cousineau. 

Photo Courtesy of Image Masters Photography