History made at WSOP Main Event

A player takes a quick nap as he is massaged during the final starting flight of World Series of Poker $10,000 buy-in Main Event No-limit Hold’em World Championship at the Paris on Thursday, July 6, 2023, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images

Phil Hellmuth as the “The Greatest Showman!" pulls a cage with Daniel "Jungleman" Cates for his entrance during the final starting flight of World Series of Poker $10,000 buy-in Main Event No-limit Hold’em World Championship at the Horseshoe on Thursday, July 6, 2023, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images

Attendees stream about during the final starting flight of World Series of Poker $10,000 buy-in Main Event No-limit Hold’em World Championship at the Horseshoe on Thursday, July 6, 2023, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images

Play continues in one of the many rooms during the final starting flight of World Series of Poker $10,000 buy-in Main Event No-limit Hold’em World Championship at the Paris on Thursday, July 6, 2023, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images

Daniel "Jungleman" Cates arrives to make a grand entrance with Phil Hellmuth during the final starting flight of World Series of Poker $10,000 buy-in Main Event No-limit Hold’em World Championship at the Horseshoe on Thursday, July 6, 2023, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images

An official sorts out an issue on a table during the final starting flight of World Series of Poker $10,000 buy-in Main Event No-limit Hold’em World Championship at the Paris on Thursday, July 6, 2023, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images

A player in Minnie Mouse hat rolls her neck during the final starting flight of World Series of Poker $10,000 buy-in Main Event No-limit Hold’em World Championship at the Paris on Thursday, July 6, 2023, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images

Models enter and hold numbers representing Phil Hellmuth's 17 gold bracelets as the “The Greatest Showman!" pulls a cage with Daniel "Jungleman" Cates for the entrance during the final starting flight of World Series of Poker $10,000 buy-in Main Event No-limit Hold’em World Championship at the Horseshoe on Thursday, July 6, 2023, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images

A player contemplates a move during the final starting flight of World Series of Poker $10,000 buy-in Main Event No-limit Hold’em World Championship at the Paris on Thursday, July 6, 2023, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images

A player stretches out as plays continues during the final starting flight of World Series of Poker $10,000 buy-in Main Event No-limit Hold’em World Championship at the Paris on Thursday, July 6, 2023, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images

A player wears a dog cone and ears during the final starting flight of World Series of Poker $10,000 buy-in Main Event No-limit Hold’em World Championship at the Horseshoe on Thursday, July 6, 2023, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images

Phil Hellmuth as the “The Greatest Showman!" Looks to a cage with Daniel "Jungleman" Cates during his entrance at the final starting flight of World Series of Poker $10,000 buy-in Main Event No-limit Hold’em World Championship at the Horseshoe on Thursday, July 6, 2023, in Las Vegas. Models follow and hold numbers representing his 17 gold bracelets. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images

A table is ready for play during the final starting flight of World Series of Poker $10,000 buy-in Main Event No-limit Hold’em World Championship at the Horseshoe on Thursday, July 6, 2023, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images

A player has a photo of Doyle Brunson tucked in his hat during the final starting flight of World Series of Poker $10,000 buy-in Main Event No-limit Hold’em World Championship at the Paris on Thursday, July 6, 2023, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images

Phil Hellmuth as the “The Greatest Showman!" with Daniel "Jungleman" Cates during his entrance at the final starting flight of World Series of Poker $10,000 buy-in Main Event No-limit Hold’em World Championship at the Horseshoe on Thursday, July 6, 2023, in Las Vegas. Models follow and hold numbers representing his 17 gold bracelets. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images

A player wears playing cards on his shirt during the final starting flight of World Series of Poker $10,000 buy-in Main Event No-limit Hold’em World Championship at the Paris on Thursday, July 6, 2023, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images

Eugene Calden at 100-years-old is enjoying being the oldest player during the final starting flight of World Series of Poker $10,000 buy-in Main Event No-limit Hold’em World Championship at the Horseshoe on Thursday, July 6, 2023, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images

Play continues in one of many rooms during the final starting flight of World Series of Poker $10,000 buy-in Main Event No-limit Hold’em World Championship at the Paris on Thursday, July 6, 2023, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images

A player sports a crown during the final starting flight of World Series of Poker $10,000 buy-in Main Event No-limit Hold’em World Championship at the Horseshoe on Thursday, July 6, 2023, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images

A player reacts to cards being laid down during the final starting flight of World Series of Poker $10,000 buy-in Main Event No-limit Hold’em World Championship at the Paris on Thursday, July 6, 2023, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images

Phil Hellmuth as the “The Greatest Showman!" pulls a cage with Daniel "Jungleman" Cates for his entrance during the final starting flight of World Series of Poker $10,000 buy-in Main Event No-limit Hold’em World Championship at the Horseshoe on Thursday, July 6, 2023, in Las Vegas. Models follow and hold numbers representing his 17 gold bracelets. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @Left_Eye_Images

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By David Schoen / Las Vegas Review-Journal

July 6, 2023 - 1:50 pm

Updated July 6, 2023 - 11:23 pm

The World Series of Poker Main Event is officially the largest in its 54-year history. And it’s still growing.

WSOP executive director Ty Stewart briefly paused play during the first level of action in the $10,000 buy-in No-limit Hold’em World Championship on Thursday at Horseshoe Las Vegas and Paris Las Vegas to announce the record field.

The previous high was 8,773 entrants set in 2006.

“This is a colossal day not only in the history of the WSOP but for poker itself,” WSOP executive director Ty Stewart said. “It’s particularly special to make history in our first year at the new Horseshoe Las Vegas. I think today is a huge testament to the passion of the entire poker community who rallies around this event every year. We’re hoping this record is short-lived and we’ll be ready for another monster turnout next summer.”

More than 5,200 players registered through the first three flights, and officials said the field topped 9,000 as players continued to enter Flight 1D on Thursday afternoon. Late registration will remain open for two levels each on Friday and Saturday, meaning the final total could top 10,000 entrants.

To celebrate the breaking of the record, the WSOP will hold a drawing for one person to receive a complimentary Main Event seat for the next 30 years. All entrants in this year’s Main Event are eligible, and the drawing will take place shortly after registration closes at 4:40 p.m. Saturday.

The Main Event drew 8,663 entrants last year, falling just shy of the record. Tournament officials made sure the mark would fall this year, running numerous promotions and online satellites that allowed players to win their seat.

This is the fourth time in Main Event history the field has surpassed 8,000 players. There were 8,569 entrants in 2019 when Germany’s Hossein Ensan came away with the top prize.

The final table of the Main Event is scheduled to begin July 16.

The WSOP has seen attendance increase year-over-year in nearly every tournament this summer, signaling a mini poker boom. The $300 buy-in Gladiators of Poker No-limit Hold’em event was the second-largest live tournament in history with more than 23,000 entrants.

Contact David Schoen at dschoen@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5203. Follow @DavidSchoenLVRJ on Twitter.