Things you did not know about the WSOP
Whilst you or someone you know might very well be one of the thousands of people that are getting ready to flex their poker muscle at the 2009 World Series of Poker (WSOP), we bet there are a few things you did not know about WSOP……
1. The WSOP is represented by more countries than the Winter Olympics
During 2008, the WSOP was attended by poker players from 124 different countries, while only 80 nations
were represented at the Winter Olympics of the same year!
2. Record breaking entries and prize pools
While even better figures are expected for the upcoming 2009 WSOP, the entries and prize pool for the 2008 WSOP
already broke some records. There were 31,146 entrants and a jaw dropping total prize pool of $180,774,427!
3. The highest paid betting sports
The winner of the 2008 WSOP collected a cheque of $9,1million. This is more than what has been earned at the 2008 Indy
500; the Daytona 500; the US Open Gold and the US Open Tennis combined!
4. The highest earnings ever at the WSOP were taken by amateurs
The highest amount ever won at the WSOP, was in 2006 when Jamie Gold earned himself an astounding $12,064,976 for
winning the Main Event. Runner up is Peter Eastgate, who nabbed the title and $9,1million for the 2008 WSOP. Neither of
them were poker pro’s at the time of their victory.
5. The first African player who made it to the final table of the Main Event
Our favourite WSOP record, which you most probably know of by now, is that our own legendary Ray Rahme became the
first ever African player to make it to the WSOP Main Event final table in 2007, earning a handsome $3,25million.
