WSOP Looks To Set Record Field Participation With Main Event Maynia

In 2006, the World Series of Poker Main Event (WSOP) had a record field of 8,773 poker players. This year, that record just might fall.

To drum up more entries for the 54th WSOP Main Event at Paris Las Vegas and Horseshoe Las Vegas, WSOP is running Main Event Maynia, a global satellite qualification event happening this Sunday at Caesars properties on four continents.

In a company statement, WSOP Executive Director Ty Stewart noted that reigning champion Espen Jorstad made it into last year’s Main Event via a satellite tournament:

“History is only a few months away and Main Event Maynia is a big part of making sure this is the biggest field in the history of the WSOP. The reigning Champion Espen Jorstad earned his Main Event seat by winning a satellite event, so there’s plenty of reason to believe this year’s champion might just be a regional player who wouldn’t otherwise be heading to Vegas.

Main Event Maynia is long overdue, and we thank our global network of satellite partners for giving players a chance to take their shot from their own backyard.”

There have been a series of step tournaments leading up to this weekend’s final tournament.

Main Event Maynia gives players a chance at a Main Event seat

Satellite tournaments are set up as a way for players to get into a tournament without paying the typical entry fee.

For example, a seat at the WSOP Main Event costs $10,000. However, the entry fee for this Sunday’s Main Event Maynia final is $1,175. Also, WSOP offered step tournaments (satellites of satellites) to get into the Main Event Maynia final for $140 per entry.

Unlike the Main Event entry fee, how, Main Event Maynia entry does not guarantee a seat at the Main Event. Rather, satellite entrants have to compete against all other satellite players for a seat at the Main Event Maynia final this Sunday. The winner of that tournament gets a seat at the WSOP Main Event and a $1,000 travel stipend.

In 2022, WSOP held dozens of satellite tournaments. For example, in June, it held one tournament a day, meaning 30 people would get a seat at the Main Event. For WSOP, satellite tournaments generate added excitement about the Main Event and, if a satellite tournament has hundreds of competitors, WSOP can end up earning more for the winner’s Main Event seat than the usual $10,000 entry fee.

Let's get into this @WSOP MAIN EVENT MAYNIA!

♠️May 21st Mega Satellite | 5pm
$1,175 Buy-In 1 in 10 win $10k seat & $1,000 cash.

♥️ Now through May 20th $140 step satellites available .

LET'S GO! pic.twitter.com/OoYkMDWsqE

— Harrah’s Pompano Beach (@HarrahsPompano) May 17, 2023

Huge perk in store if Main Event breaks entry record

As part of its push to exceed the 2006 entry total, WSOP is offering a significant prize if the record falls: a non-transferrable Main Event buy-in for the next 30 years. Based on the current Main Event entry fee, that’s a prize worth $300,000.

Main Event Maynia locations

WSOP’s Main Event Maynia will take place at the following 10 properties in the US:

1. Grand Victoria Casino Elgin (Illinois)
2. Hard Rock Tulsa (Oklahoma)
3. Harrah’s Cherokee (North Carolina)
4. Harrah’s Pompano Beach (Florida)
5. Horseshoe Council Bluffs (Iowa)
6. Horseshoe Las Vegas (Nevada)
7. Horseshoe St. Louis (Missouri)
8. Horseshoe Tunica (Missippi)
9. Thunder Valley Casino Resort (California)
10. Turning Stone Casino (New York)

Satellites will also run at the following five international locations:

1. Playground Poker Club and Deerfoot Inn & Casino Calgary (Canada)
2. Enjoy Punta del Este Resort and Casino (Uruguay)
3. King’s Resort (Czech Republic)
4. Club Pierre Charron Paris (France)

For those who want to watch this year’s Main Event in Las Vegas, PokerGo is offering a live stream of the final table.