After three starting flights, over 800 players who managed to secure their seats for the Day 2 action reconvened today at the Encore Ballroom at the Wynn to continue battling it out for the 2024 WPT World Championship title.
After the registration window officially closed for Day 1C yesterday, official numbers followed shortly, and it was made known that this year’s Championship attracted a grand total of 2,392 entries.
This turnout was enough to create a massive prize pool of $24.4 million, with the last player standing guaranteed to walk away with $3,128,500, a free entry into the next year’s WPT World Championship event, and their name etched into the legendary Mike Sexton Cup.
First Order of Business: Surviving the Bubble
Of the 800-odd players who started the day today, 299 will be making money. All of those who outlast the player to bust in the 300th place will make at least $19,400 for their efforts.
At the time of writing this, there are just over 400 players still left in the field, and with a total of five 90-minute levels planned, there is a good chance the bubble will burst today. If it doesn’t happen, though, then it shouldn’t take long tomorrow before tournament reaches the money stage.
Making to the min-cash and securing a payday is nice, but it’s safe to assume that everyone with chips still in front of them is eyeing the final table. Those who make it into the top six will secure at least $665,000.
The winner will, of course, walk away with the lion’s share of the $24M+ prize pool, taking home $3.1M. Whoever losses the final skirmish will still be able to find some consolation in the $2,075,000 prize for the runner-up.
Tournament Filled With Big Poker Names
Despite several major festivals happening around the same time, the WPT World Championship saw an impressive turnout, not just in numbers but also in terms of player profiles.
Some of the biggest and most accomplished players chose the Wynn as their to-go destination for some poker action this December, creating one of the most star-studded fields one could expect to come across.
To mention just those who made it through the initial flights, the event attracted the likes of Calvin Anderson, last year’s WPT Prime Championship winner, WPT Global ambassador Ethan ‘Rampage’ Yau, WSOP Main Event winners Joe McKeehen and Martin Jacobson, high-stakes crusher Mikita Badziakouski, among others.
One of those who made it into Day 2 is also the WPT Anchor Lynn Gilmartin, and she started off on a strong note, adding some chips to her stack over the first couple of levels.
Still a Long Road Ahead
The WPT World Championship is most definitely a marathon and not a sprint. There is a lot more road ahead for the players, as the quality tournament structure allows for plenty of maneuvering room.
For those making it to the last few tables and, eventually, to the final table, this will be a test of much more than their poker skills. It is a challenge of patience and the ability to brush off inevitable bad beats and coolers and keep moving forward.
It’s too early to make any predictions about the potential winner, as things change very quickly at a poker table. That said, whoever ends up with all the chips when all is said and done will become a part of poker history (and give their bankroll a very healthy boost, of course)!
