As reported by: CKWS TV
Top prize at the 2007 World Series of Poker will be US$8.25 million based on the 6,358 players who have entered the no-limit Texas Hold 'em main event over the tournament's four starting days.

Organizers revised the payoff up from the previously announced $8.23 million and said Monday about $59.8 million will be paid out of the tournament's pot to players who finish in the money.

The totals are short of last year's record 8,773 participants and $12 million top prize. But it comes nine months after President Bush signed a law cracking down on Internet gambling, which is blamed for shrinking the number of entrants who would have qualified in online tournaments.

The field is still massive, and several pros, including 2004 champion Greg Raymer, Doyle "Texas Dolly" Brunson and Phil Ivey, have been bounced already. Of the 4,569 players who participated in the $10,000 buy-in tournament's first three days, 1,698 remain.

For the poker-playing world, the main event at the World Series is the year's pinnacle event, where the cards can be cruel and only the skilled, as well as the lucky, survive.

"It hurts of course," said Brunson, shortly after busting out on the first day of play Friday, when his two pair of aces and queens was beaten by three queens. "It's the prestige of these tournaments, particularly this one, that everybody's concerned with. Everyone's trying to win bracelets a lot more than money."

The field also is filled with amateur players who took vacations to play against the game's biggest stars for a shot at overcoming staggering odds to win a staggering pot.

"When you play with this many people, you can't realistically think about winning," said Dave Fox of Coram, N.Y. "It's better odds than a lottery. Skill is involved but there still is a tremendous amount of luck."

Officially, 1,789 players began play at noon for the fourth starting day of the tournament Monday.


Article By: CKWS TV