The official numbers are in. There were 3,768 entrants today, bringing the total for the 2014 Main Event to 6,683. This is an increase of 331 from last years Main Event and the largest since 2011.
That total makes it the fifth largest Main Event in history. A total of 693 players will make the money and with a prize pool of $62,820,200, there is plenty of money to be had.
We'll have the full pay out information posted as soon as it becomes available.
We found Phil Hellmuth with 4,000 in front of him in a large pot, the flop reading . His opponent thought for awhile before raising to 11,000.
Hellmuth pulled out his headphones, exaggerated a shrug, then put them back in. He leaned back and forward in his seat several times and rechecked his cards before mucking them.
"They're throwing their money at me, Shannon," he told the dealer. "It's only a matter of time. Just don't put a bad beat on me. Every single tournament I enter..."
"You were never ahead," Hellmuth's opponent said confidently.
Back in Australia, Bruno Portaro is known as somewhat of a loose cannon. Not because he's a perceived donkey or anything of that nature, but just that Portaro likes to have fun when he plays poker by mixing it up and playing an array of hands.
Although Portaro has no results on this side of the Pacific Ocean, he has amassed over AU$210,000 in lifetime earnings from 31 cashes although the majority of his time is spent on the cash game tables.
With Portaro traveling out to Las Vegas for the last few years to play the WSOP, he spends time with his family and enjoys the sights, but always makes time to play the Main Event.
Today, Portaro chipped up early, and after getting moved from his starting table, he proceeded to flop top set holding . His opponent barreled into him, and when Portaro raised the river he couldn't find a call from his opponent. Still, he consequently raked in the pot, sending his count over the 100,000-chip mark.
Michael Nelson, the most inebriated player in the room, has just left the Amazon Room in search for perhaps a better bar to drink in.
Nelson moved all in before the flop for about 21,000 chips and James Oliver moved all in over the top, getting the other players to fold.
"Turn your cards over," the dealer told Nelson, who flipped over the .
Nelson grunted.
"Turn both your cards over," the dealer continued as Nelson smiled before he showed the .
Oliver showed and was well in the lead, but it seemed like most players were rooting for Nelson to stay in to give themselves a chance to win some of his chips.
The board ran out and Nelson was knocked out.
"I won!" Nelson yelled.
"He's got you covered," the dealer told Nelson, who shrugged.
"Well, good luck with it," Nelson said, as the dealer began dealing the next hand.
All players except for Nelson were being dealt into the next hand, as he remained seated at the table.
"We gonna smoke now, black?" Nelson yelled over to Maurice Hawkins, who was at his former table in the Pavilion Room.
Hawkins laughed and smiled, and as Nelson finally left the room he said, "Where ever that guy gets his money, there's probably a lot more!"
Maurice Hawkins bet 11,000 - about the size of the pot - on the river after the board came . Jason Duval sighed and looked pained as he tanked for awhile before calling. Hawkins rolled over for queens-full.
From the button, Ronnie Pease opened to 600 and the big blind called. The flop landed and Pease bet 900 with the big blind calling as the landed on the turn.
The big blind checked and Pease tossed in 2,400 with his opponent making the call before the was checked by both players on the river. The big blind tabled his and Pease mucked his hand.
Although he lost the pot, Pease is still nestled behind an impressive 124,000 in chips.
John Dolan was under-the-gun and cut out a raise to 700. Action folded around to the small blind and big blind, and both called the raise.
The trio saw a flop and the two blinds checked back to the former November Niner. Dolan continued for 1,250 and the small blind quickly called. The big blind released his hand, leaving the two heads-up to the turn. Action checked over to Dolan for a second time and he fired 2,500. Once again, his opponent stuck around.
The hit the board on the river and Dolan's opponent checked one last time. Dolan dipped into his stack and came out with a final bet of 6,200. His opponent called, but quickly mucked his hand after seeing Dolan's for a flopped set of fours. Dolan dragged in the pot and now has about 72,500 in chips.