The 2024 WSOP Main Event Championship bracelet that more than 5,000 people showed up for on Monday to pay $10,000 for a chance to win. (Image: courtesy of WSOP)

A resounding throng of players turned out for the final Day One of the 2024 World Series of Poker $10,000 Main Event No-Limit Hold’em Championship, breaking the record for the largest-ever Day One in the 55-year history of the tournament. We still don't know, however, if it will be enough to exceed last year’s record-setting field of 10,043. At a minimum, that final Day One field has already pushed the 2024 event to the second-largest tournament field in its history. 

Players Flood Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas for Poker Glory

Day 1D on Saturday at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas figured to bring a large number of players – the question was just HOW high would the figure go? The answer was that it would more than make up for a less-than-stellar turnout in the first three Day Ones by bringing in 5,014 players, shattering the record for the largest ever Day One field in history. It would bring the total entries for the 2024 event to 9,287 players to make for the second-largest WSOP Championship Event in history with an outside shot at eclipsing the 2023 field.

Because late registration will go on through the first two levels of Day2ABC (the combination of Days 1A, 1B, and 1C) and Day 2D (the sole Day 1D survivors), there was a slim chance that another 900 or so people could come out with $10,000 burning a hole in their pocket. If that were to occur, then the 2024 field would top the 10,043 who came to the felt for last year’s tournament. 

Either way, it is a monumental field that will generate a monumental prize pool once the late registration period expires Monday evening.

As for the Day 1D action, with over 5,000 players in attendance, there is not a purpose in looking for a leader. 3823 players would make it through the massive field to head to Monday’s Day 2D action, with John McDonald taking over the overall chip lead with his 496,000 stack. The top three players for the day – McDonald, Scott Stewart (370,200), and David Miller (332,200) – all would build bigger stacks than the leaders from the first three Day Ones, who came back to battle on Sunday to see who would survive.

Late Entries Come Out on Sunday’s Day 2ABC

With 3,143 players on the tables around the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas on Sunday afternoon, it might not have seemed to many like the best time to leap into the tournament. However, the 60,000 starting stack still provided a substantial amount of play, so 206 players decided to take their chances on coming in late to the party. That brings the numbers up to 9,493 players for 2024, leaving the door slightly open for the 2023 record to come tumbling down – IF 551 players come to the tables during the first two levels of Day 2D on Monday. 

For several top professionals, Day 2ABC would mark the end of the road. Three-time WSOP bracelet winner Vanessa Selbst, stepping back into the poker arena for a rare appearance (Selbst left poker for the business world six years ago), was on the elevator for much of her two days in the 2024 tournament, but she would finally hit the basement and not be able to emerge on the other side. She was joined by several other pros on the rail, including four-time WSOP bracelet winner Dominik Nitsche, James Dempsey, Connor Drinan, and “High Roller” killer Sean Perry. 

The news wasn’t all terrible for the pros. Poker Hall of Famers John Hennigan (470,000) and Daniel Negreanu (95,000) were able to pick out a bag for Day 3, while John Duthie (419,500, took out Dempsey) and World Poker Tour Champions’ Club member Joe Tehan (540,500) sits in a comfortable 17^th place out of the 1549 players who made it through Day 2ABC. For the Day 2ABC action, here is how the Top Five players came out: 

1. Anthony Marsico (USA), 797,000
2. Christopher Vincent (USA), 772,000
3. Manuel Machado (Portugal), 680,500
4. Jangkyu Lee (South Korea), 665,500
5. Karo Nuri (Switzerland), 646,500

Last Chance Comes on Monday

The 3,823 players who will come to the tables on Monday know the challenges they face – they just don’t know what they are playing for yet. Because of late registration, the final numbers are not in the books yet but (as stated previously) if 551 players suddenly find $10K in their pocket and want to fancy a chance at what will be north of a $10 million payday, then the 2024 WSOP Championship WILL crack the 2023 record. It would also make for the largest Day 2 in the tournament’s history. 

Coming to the gate on Monday, these are the Top Five players who will have the best opportunity to move on to Day Three … because that is all that is guaranteed right now if you have a stack come the end of the day: 

1. John McDonald (USA), 496,000
2. Scott Stewart (USA), 370,200
3. David Miller (USA), 332,200
4. Jeff Beckley (USA), 312,000
5. Victor Fryda (France), 310,000

Six-time WSOP bracelet winner Brian Hastings is still a part of the gang who will come to the tables on Monday, sitting with a respectable 252,100. Aram Zobian (231,400), John Dolan (214,000), and Ari Engel (209,400) also will be looking to “survive and advance” through Day 2D.

On Tuesday, the field for the 2024 World Series of Poker Main Event will come together as one for the first time. We will also know, by the midpoint of Monday’s play, just what the players are playing for (the prize pool), what the minimum payday will be (most players will receive that), how many players will get paid, and the eventual champion’s share of the kitty (over $10 million, most likely). We’re not even close to the halfway point of the 2024 WSOP Main Event marathon, but it is shaping up to be another memorable fortnight.