The World Series of Poker (WSOP) is a world-renowned series of poker tournaments held annually in Las Vegas and, since 2005, sponsored by Harrah's Entertainment. It dates its origins to 1970, when Benny Binion invited seven of the best-known poker players (supposedly the seven best in the US) to the Horseshoe Casino for a single tournament, with a set start and stop time, and a winner determined by secret ballot.
The winner of each event receives a World Series of Poker bracelet and a monetary prize based on the number of entrants and buy-in amounts. Over the years the tournament has grown, both in the number of events and the number of participants. Each year the WSOP culminates with the $10,000 no-limit hold'em "Main Event", which since 2004 has attracted entrants numbering in the thousands. The victor receives a multi-million dollar prize and a bracelet, which has become the most coveted award a poker player can win. The winner of the World Series of Poker Main Event is considered to be the World Champion of Poker.
Starting in 2011, the WSOP consists of 58 events, with most major poker variants featured, though in recent years over half of the events have been variants of Texas hold 'em. Events traditionally take place during one day or over several consecutive days during the series in June and July. However, starting in 2008, the Main Event final table has been delayed until November.
The 2010 World Series of Poker was held at the Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. It started on May 27 and ran through July 17, with the final table of the Main Event returning in November. Jonathan Duhamel became the first Canadian to win the main event, taking home US$8.94 million.
The biggest event of the year in the WSOP is known as the Main Event. In 2011, 6,865 players from around the world participated in the WSOP Main Event, which started on July 7th in the Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino. The entry fee was $10,000. After eight days and more than half a million hands, the final nine players were reached.
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