The 2024 World Series of Poker is now officially over. After six full weeks of exciting poker action and 99 bracelet-awarding events, it’s time for players to go back to their usual grinding routines, at least for a little while.
This year’s WSOP was one for poker history books in many ways, but one thing that truly stands out is the Main Event. As the registration period was coming to a close, the tournament managed to break the attendance record set in 2023, attracting a total of 10,112 players.
We also saw many big names performing well this summer. Daniel Negreanu finally won another bracelet, as did Phil Ivey. The online legend Viktor ‘Isildur1’ Blom made a few appearances and had some deep runs, while Scott Seiver had an impressive run to cement his poker legacy.
Jonathan Tamayo Triumphant in the Main Event
After a grueling battle on the green felt, the 2024 WSOP Main Event concluded a couple of days ago, with Jonathan Tamayo coming out on top to claim his first bracelet and the $10,000,000 first prize money that came with it.
Tamayo is an experienced player who came into the final table with four WSOPC rings to his names, but this is by far his biggest career achievement.
To claim the throne, Tamayo had to defeat Jordan Griff, a man who was by far the least experienced. With only about $50,000 in lifetime cashes, Griff is not a professional player, but he didn’t let that stop him from playing his heart out and coming within the reach of the title.
Although he couldn’t quite close the deal, Jordan’s runner-up finish in the largest-ever Main Event is an amazing accomplishment, and the $6,000,000 prize will certainly help ease the pain of missing out on the win.
It wasn’t an easy final table, either. The third-place finisher, Niklas Astedt, is considered by many to be the best online tournament player around. The likes of Brian Kim and Joe Serock, both of whom had an early departure, were not easy nuts to crack, either.
All in all, it was a Main Event to remember, and one thing that many fans will regret is that Kristen Foxen didn’t make it to the final table. Foxen’s luck ran out just a bit too early, but had she made it with a decent stack, there’d be a real shot at having the first female Main Event winner.
In many ways, it would have been a perfect ending, but it wasn’t meant to be. But with Foxen’s skills and determination, we wouldn’t put another deep run in the near future past her.
World Series of Poker Breaking Records Again
The 2024 World Series of Poker was a success in every which way. The record-breaking Main Event was certainly a pinnacle of the series, but the organizers have many reasons to be happy.
The schedule consisting of 99 bracelet events was the most extensive one we’ve seen thus far, and with the trend of adding new events every year, it’s safe to assume that we’ll see over 100 tournaments on offer in 2025.
In addition to live events, WSOP awarded 37 online bracelets. Seven of these went to players in Pennsylvania, while the remaining 30 were reserved for players on the combined WSOP Online platform (catering to players in Michigan, New Jersey, and Nevada).
Despite tens of thousands of players filling up the halls of Paris and Horseshoe casinos, the 2024 World Series of Poker played out without any major issues. Occasional small problems are to be expected during an event of this magnitude, but the overall organization was on a very high level.
Finally, this year’s turnout is a great indicator for the future. It is clear proof that 2023 numbers weren’t just a fluke fueled by the desire to play live after pandemic-caused shutdowns and cancelations. Players are hungry for live tournaments, and major industry stakeholders seem eager to deliver.
More Bracelets to Come in 2024
The summer portion of the World Series of Poker may be over, but there are more bracelet-winning opportunities waiting in the coming months.
First to come is the World Series of Poker Europe, taking place in September and October in Rozvadov, the Czech Republic. With 15 tournaments on the schedule and €15,000,000 in guaranteed prize money, the 2024 WSOP Europe will attract players from all over.
Just two days ago, the WSOP came out confirming the second edition of the WSOP Paradise. Taking place in the Bahamas, the series will offer plenty of action in December, including the Main Event with the record-breaking $50,000,000 guarantee.
So, those who missed out on opportunities this summer will still have plenty of chances to fight for bracelets before the end of the year. Of course, the likes of GGPoker will run numerous satellites and promotions to help you secure your seat, so keep your eyes peeled for those!