DAY 5 Warren Zackey

Tournament Notes:

Tournament Highlights:

Day 5 Headlines

1. World Series of Poker Continues - 185 Dreams Remain Alive in Main Event

2. Warren Zackey (Johannesburg, South Africa) is the New Chip Leader Going into Day Six

3. Many Well-Known Poker Players Still Alive - including Tom Schneider, Phil Ivey, Fabrice Soulier, Bertrand "Elky" Grospellier, Blair Hinkle, Jeff Shulman, Antonio Esfandiari, Dennis Phillips, Peter Eastgate, Joe Sebok, Blair Rodman, David Benyamine, J.C. Tran, Kenny Tran, Prahlad Friedman, Chris Bjorin, and Joe Hachem

4. Two Former World Champions Still Alive in Main Event - Peter Eastgate and Joe Hachem

5. Two November Nine Finalists Still Alive in Main Event - Peter Eastgate and Dennis Phillips

The Main Event Continues

-- The 2009 WSOP Main Event continued with the play and conclusion of Day 5. The day included a deep run into the money, as the tournament field size was more than cut in half. All 407 players who started play were already guaranteed $27,469 in prize money. Now, after ten days and 40 hours of tournament play, all finishers are guaranteed at least $36,626 in prize money.

-- Day 3 began with 407 players. The day ended with 185 survivors.

-- Prize money payouts increase at various intervals. Every player still alive in the tournament (185th place and higher) is now guaranteed at least $36,626 in prize money.

-- This was the 45th day of the WSOP. Play continues for three more days, plus the finale to be played in November.

-- Tomorrow (Sunday) begins at noon and is expected to include five levels of play.

-- Play on Day 4 began on July 12, 2009 at 12:05 pm.

Humorous Moments at the WSOP

-- About an hour into play, Assistant Tournament Director Jimmy Sommerfeld announced to all players and spectators: "The player who just busted off Table 34, Seat 5 - you left your shoes." The player did not return to claim his property. A size 10 pair of Salvatore Ferragamo sandals remains unclaimed at the WSOP lost and found.

-- As players bust out, tables are broken down and consolidated. This requires players to pick up their own chips and transfer to new tables. Deep into Level 18, a player was walking across the room and accidentally bumped into a camera crew. Two full racks of assorted chips crashed to the floor and rolled off in different directions. There was a mad dash by the player and tournament staff to recover the stray chips. After a few minutes, all chips were gathered and the player finally took his new seat. Mischievous-minded Jimmy Sommerfeld decided to have some fun at the player's expense. As the player was re-stacking his chips into neat rows, Sommerfeld put on his best stone face. He informed the player that any chips that hit the floor would be ruled technically out of play. After a momentary expression of shock, the player quickly figured out he was the target of a gag and play resumed.

-- Sommerfeld continued his folly. After players were allowed back into the tournament room following a 20-minute break, Sommerfeld jokingly announced to the crowd who were strolling slowly back in, "Cards are back in the air in 15-seconds!" After a few screams of panic and players dashing madly to re-take their seats, Sommerfeld smiled and announced the players still had two minutes to take their seats.

Play on Day 5

-- Defending champion Peter Eastgate survived. He remains very much alive in the 2009 Main Event. He is presently in 82nd place, which is slightly ahead of the pack. It's been another incredible run for the Danish poker pro. On Day 2, he was down to just 8,000 in chips, but went on a monster rush during the final hour and ended up with about an average-sized stack. On Day 3, he held steady and also finished the day. On Days 4 and 5, Eastagte remained alive with an average stack, seemingly taking a low-profile strategy to the reaching the final table. Eastgate is primed to make the best run by a defending champion since Greg "Fossilman" Raymer's 25-place finish in the 2005 Main Event.

It should be noted that Eastgate was ranked 12th (out of 79 players) after Day 5 last year, and went on to win the championship.

-- Former world champions who continued play on Day 4 included - Bobby "the Owl" Baldwin (1978), Dan Harrington (1995), Joe Hachem (2005), and Peter Eastgate (2008). Baldwin and Harrington were eliminated. Hachem and Eastgate both survived.

-- Players competed for three complete levels. Play ended after Level 20. When play resumes tomorrow at Level 21, blinds will be 8,000-16,000 with a 2,000 ante. The average stack size is 1,053,081.

-- Day 5 started with a field of 407 players and ended with 185 survivors. This means only about 2.8 percent of the original 6,494 starters survived past the fifth day.

-- Seven females started the day. Entering Day 6, only two females remain alive. They are Nichoel Peppe (Long Beach, CA) who is in 35th place. Leo Margets (Barcelona, Spain) is in 135th place. Note: Nichoel Peppe's name is spelled correctly.

More about Nichoel Peppe: She is a professional poker player, who has been playing in live games for about five years. Her normal cash game is $5-10 NLHE at the Bicycle Club Casino in Los Angeles. She is 30-years-old and is newly married to fellow poker pro Tad Jurgens, whom she met in a poker room. Jurgens took second place in this year's $1,500 HORSE event. He also lasted until the third day of the Main Event, coming up short of the prize money.

-- Actor Lou Diamond Phillips was eliminated on the final hand of the day. He ended up finishing in 186th place.

-- Two time WSOP gold bracelet winner and 1995 world champion Dan Harrington was eliminated in 252nd place. -- Former gold bracelet winner Keith Lehr was eliminated in 266th place.

-- Two-time WSOP gold bracelet winner Vitaly Lunkin was eliminated in 346th place.

-- Four-time WSOP gold bracelet winner and 1978 world champion Bobby Baldwin was eliminated in 352nd place.

-- Two-time WSOP gold bracelet winner Thor Hansen was eliminated in 387th place.

-- Players who survived Day 5 will return to continue their quest for the 2009 world poker championship gold bracelet and $8.5 million in prize money on July 13th, starting at noon.

-- Play on Day 5 ended at 6:45 pm.

Day 5 Chip Leader (Warren Zackey)

-- The chip leader is Warren Zackey, from Johannesburg, South Africa. He began the day with 732,000 in chips and ended up ranked in first place going into Day 6. Zackey is a 42-year-old business owner who sells plumbing supplies.

-- Zackey cited Fellow countryman Raymond Rayme's third-place finish in the 2007 WSOP Main Event as an inspiration. The broadcast of Rayme's accomplishment was shown multiple times on ESPN in South Africa, which created more interest in the game and the WSOP. Last year, the number of South Africans who came to the WSOP amounted to 23. This year, there were 32, according to officials with the Piggs Peak Casino.

-- Zackey won his seat via a tournament held at the Piggs Peak Casino, located in Swaziland (a nation adjacent to South Africa). There are four major tournaments held there each year. Zackey won his $10,000 entry in May.

A Short Interview with Warren Zackey

Question: How much of an inspiration was Raymond Rahme's final table appearance at the WSOP two years ago?

Zackey: Poker took off 100 percent after that. Rahme made many players start playing in poker tournaments in South Africa. He was excellent for the country.

Question: So, how did you get to play in the WSOP?

Zackey: I am from Johannesburg. I came second in the All Africa series, which is the biggest poker tournament in Africa. I won a seat into the WSOP at the Piggs Peak Casino. I decided to take my chances, instead of selling it away.

Question: Is this your first time to play at the WSOP?

Zackey: Yes. It's brilliant. Excellent. If I tell somebody in South Africa what it is like, they are not going to believe me. They have to come here. Las Vegas is unbelievable.

Question: How did you end up with the chip lead?

Zackey: I got some really good hands….I tripled up on the first day. I doubled up again and again (on the next two days). I think I started with 730,000 today and then went up from there.

Question: If you win the Main Event and collect over $8.5 million, are you going to go back selling plumbing supplies?

Zackey: No, I have a family. I'd go back to it.

Question: What does your family think about this?

Zackey: My wife follows me. My kids follow me every step of the way. My wife is with me in Las Vegas. My children are (back home) following on the Internet.

Question: What do you expect to happen over the next few days?

Zackey: I'm not too sure. I will think about it tonight. But I am going to take it easy unless I get some decent cards.

-- Here is how the previous end-of-day chip leaders have fared:

Day 1-A: Redmond Lee (London, UK) - eliminated, did not cash
Day 1-B: Brandon Demes (Tempe, AZ) - eliminated, did not cash
Day 1-C: Joseph Cada (Shelby Township, MI) - currently in 44th place
Day 1-D: Troy Weber (West Terre Haute, IN) - eliminated, did not cash
Day 2-A: Andrew Gaw (Philippines) - eliminated, did not cash
Day 2-B: Amir Lehavot (Weston, FL) - currently in 128th place
Day 3: Bertrand Grospellier (Nancy, France) - currently 16th place
Day 4: Matt Affleck (Seattle, WA) - currently in 7th place
Day 5: Warren Zackey (Johannesburg, South Africa) -- TBD

WSOP Main Event (Cashing Records)

MOST CAREER CASHES IN MAIN EVENT:

10 - Berry Johnston
7 - Doyle Brunson
7 - Humberto Brenes
7 - Jay Heimowitz
7 - Phil Hellmuth (updated to include this year's cash)
7 - Mike Sexton (updated to include this year's cash)
7 - Bobby Baldwin (updated to include this year's cash)

MORE ON BERRY JOHNSTON:

BERRY JOHNSTON ALL-TIME ME CASHES (10)

JOHNSTON BERRY $10000 No Limit Hold'em World Championship 1982 3 $104,000.00
JOHNSTON BERRY $10000 No Limit Hold'em World Championship 1985 3 $140,000.00
JOHNSTON BERRY $10000 No Limit Hold'em World Championship 1986 1 $570,000.00
JOHNSTON BERRY $10000 No Limit Hold'em World Championship 1987 32 $7,500.00
JOHNSTON BERRY $10000 No Limit Hold'em World Championship 1989 29 $7,500.00
JOHNSTON BERRY $10000 No Limit Hold'em World Championship 1990 5 $75,150.00
JOHNSTON BERRY $10000 No Limit Hold'em World Championship 1992 17 $10,100.00
JOHNSTON BERRY $10000 No Limit Hold'em World Championship 1995 21 $17,300.00
JOHNSTON BERRY $10000 No Limit Hold'em World Championship 1996 16 $23,400.00
JOHNSTON BERRY $10000 No Limit Hold'em World Championship 2007 113 $58,570.00

MOST CONSECUTIVE CASHES IN MAIN EVENT:

Theodore Park, 4 cashes - 2005-2008
Bo Sehlstedt, 4 cashes- 2004-2007
Robert Turner, 4 cashes- 1991-1994

13 others tied at three including:
Mike Sexton ('91-'93), Johnny Chan ('87-'89) Jay Heimowitz ('87-'89) Hans "Tuna" Lund ('90-'92) Berry Johnston ('85-'87) Andrew Brokos (06'-08') and Stefan Mattsson ('06-'08)

CURRENT STREAK - CONSEUTIVE CASHES:

Theodore Park 2005- 2008 (2009???)
Stefan Mattsson 2006-2008 (2009??)
Andrew Brokos 2006-2008 (2009??)

Players to Watch

-- Here is the current status of all former WSOP world champions who played in this year's Main Event. Six former champions remain still alive:

1972: "Amarillo Slim" Preston - eliminated on Day 2
1975/1976: Doyle Brunson - eliminated on Day 1
1978: Bobby Baldwin - STILL ALIVE (352th place, with 213,000)
1983: Tom McEvoy - eliminated on Day 1
1986: Berry Johnston - eliminated on Day 2
1987/1988: Johnny Chan - eliminated on Day 2
1989: Phil Hellmuth - CASHED IN 436th PLACE
1993: Jim Bechtel - eliminated on Day 3
1995: Dan Harrington - CASHED IN 252th PLACE
1996: Huck Seed - eliminated on Day 1
1998: Scotty Nguyen - eliminated on Day 2
2000: Chris "Jesus" Ferguson - CASHED IN 561st PLACE
2001: Carlos "the Matador" Mortensen - eliminated on Day 3
2002: Robert Varkonyi - eliminated on Day 2
2003: Chris Moneymaker - eliminated on Day 1
2004: Greg "Fossilman" Raymer - eliminated on Day 3
2005: Joe Hachem - STILL ALIVE (137th place, with 540,000)
2006: Jamie Gold - eliminated in Day 1
2007: Jerry Yang - eliminated on Day 1
2008: Peter Eastgate - STILL ALIVE (83rd place, with 927,000)

-- Here is the current status of all current and former WSOP "Player of the Year" champions who played in this year's Main Event:

2005: Daniel Negreanu - eliminated on Day 1
2006: Allen Cunningham - eliminated on Day 2
2007: Tom Schneider - STILL ALIVE (currently in 4th place, with 3,168,000)
2008: Erick Lindgren - eliminated on Day 2
2009: Jeffrey Lisandro - eliminated on Day 3

-- Here is the current status of those players with notable results from this year's WSOP:

David Bach (HORSE World Championship winner) - eliminated on Day 2

Alex Bolotin ("Ante-Up for Africa" championship winner) - eliminated on Day 3

Darryll Fish (cashed 7 times at this year's WSOP) - eliminated on Day 2

Jeffrey Lisandro (won three gold bracelets this year) - eliminated on Day 3

Ville Wahlbeck (finished 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 6th in four events) - eliminated on Day 3

Vitaly Lunkin (finished 1st, 2nd, and 4th in three events) -

STILL ALIVE (268,000 place, below average stack)

Greg Mueller (won two gold bracelets this year) - eliminated on Day 4

Phil Ivey (won two gold bracelets this year) - STILL ALIVE (currently in 45th place, with 1,380,000)

-- Here is the current status of notable non-pro celebrities from this year's Main Event:

Chuck Pachenco (movie producer) - CASHED IN 612th PLACE

Jason Alexander (actor) - eliminated on Day 3

Scott Ian (musician with band "Anthrax") - eliminated on Day 3

Shane Warne (world famous cricket player) - eliminated on Day 3

Torrie Wilson (female wrestler) - eliminated on Day 1

John Salley (former NBA basketball player) - eliminated on Day 1

Patrick Bruel (French actor and singer) - CASHED IN 428th PLACE

Lou Diamond Phillips (actor and singer) - CASHED IN 186th PLACE

Marlon Wayans (actor) - eliminated on Day 2

Jordan Farmar (NBA basketball player) - eliminated on Day 3

Sam Simon (Hollywood writer and producer) - eliminated on Day 3

Joseph Kahn (music video producer) - eliminated on Day 1

Ray Romano (actor) - eliminated on Day 1

Sully Erna (musician) - eliminated on Day 1

Shannon Elizabeth (actor) - eliminated on Day 1

Brad Garrett (actor) -- eliminated on Day 1

Jennifer Tilly (actor) - eliminated on Day 1

Orel Hershiser (former major league baseball player - eliminated on Day 1

Historical Footnote: The highest Main Event finish for a (non-poker) celebrity was actor Telly Savalas, who finished 21st in the 1992 championship.

-- Here is the current status of last year's "November Nine" (2009 Main Event Final Table participants):

Ivan Demidov - eliminated on Day 2

Peter Eastgate - STILL ALIVE IN 83rd PLACE

Kelly Kim - CASHED IN 423rd PLACE

Craig Marquis - eliminated in Day 1

Scott Montgomery - eliminated on Day 2

Dennis Phillips - STILL ALIVE IN 78th PLACE

David "Chino" Rheem - eliminated on Day 1 Ylon Schwartz - eliminated on Day 2

Darus Suharto - eliminated on Day 3

-- Of the remaining players who are still alive going into Day Six, 68 are international (non-American) players. This represents 37 percent of the field.

US - 117 players remain UK - 14 players remain Canada - 12 players remain Australia - 6 players remain France - 5 players remain Germany - 5 players remain Italy - 4 players remain Finland - 3 players remain Denmark - 2 players remain Netherlands - 2 players remain Spain - 2 players remain Argentina - 1 player remains Austria - 1 player remains Bulgaria - 1 player remains Israel - 1 player remains Norway - 1 player remains Panama - 1 player remains Peru - 1 player remains Turkey - 1 player remains St. Kitts - 1 player remains South Africa - 1 player remains Slovakia - 1 player remains Russian Federation - 1 player remains Romania - 1 player remains

-- Daily elimination percentages are as follows:

DAY ONE: 68 percent of the original starters in this tournament survived the first day / 32 percent were eliminated.

DAY TWO: 31 percent of the original starters survived the second day / 27 percent were eliminated from the start of day amount.

DAY THREE: 12 percent of the original starters survived the third day / 60 percent were eliminated from the start of day amount.

DAY FOUR: 6.2 percent of the original starters survived the fourth day / 48.2 percent were eliminated from the start of day amount

DAY FIVE: 2.8 percent of the original starters survived the fifth day / 55 percent were eliminated from the start of day amount

Female Participants in the 2009 Main Event

(Note: The WSOP recognizes that player characteristics such as gender, race, etc. do not warrant special mention. However, since many members of the media wish to know details about female participation and status, the staff is providing this information for media use.)

-- The number of female participants in this year's Main Event is estimated to be 187, which amounts to 2.8 percent of the field. There is no official record since entrants are not designated by their gender. However, it has been customary to count every player at the start of Day One and take an unofficial head-count of female players.

-- An estimated eight female players remain alive in the Main Event at the conclusion of Day 3 (precise number is not known, this is an estiamte). This list includes:

Kara Scott Tobin (UK)
Emma Grace (Australia)
Marla Schwartz (USA)
Kristy Gazes (USA)
Melanie Banfield (South Africa)
"Oklahoma" Sarah Hale (USA)
Denise Malloy (USA)
Christina Renz (USA)

Here are the highest-female finishers (by year) in the WSOP Main Event (Note: Only players who finished in-the-money were recorded):

No female cashed in the Main Event between the years 1970-1985.

1986 - Wendeen Eolis (25th)
1987 - None
1988 - None
1989 - None
1990 - None
1991 - None
1992 - None
1993 - Marsha Waggoner (19th)
1994 - Barbara Samuelson (10th)
1995 - Barbara Enright (5th)
1996 - Lucy Rokach (26th)
1997 - Marsha Waggoner (12th)
1998 - Susie Isaacs (10th)
1999 - None
2000 - Annie Duke (10th)
2001 - None
2002 - None
2003 - Annie Duke (47th)
2004 - Rose Richie (98th)
2005 - Tiffany Williamson (15th)
2006 - Sabyl Cohen-Landrum (56th)
2007 - Maria Ho (38th)
2008 - Tiffany Michelle (17th)

World Series of Poker Statistics --

The 2009 WSOP Main Event now ranks as the third-largest live poker tournament in history. Only the 2006 and 2008 Main Event championships drew larger numbers. It should be noted that if the Rio had greater seating capacity (Day 1-D sold out), this year's tournament would have unquestionably surpassed last year's attendance figures.

-- The total prize pool for this year's Main Event totals $61,043,600. However, this figure is not final. Since interest is added to payouts for players who will constitute the November Nine, the final figure will actually be slightly higher.

-- The number of female participants in this year's Main Event is estimated to be 187, which amounts to 2.8 percent of the field. There is no official record since entrants are not designated by sex. However, it has been customary in recent years to count every player at the start of Day One (actually all flights A-D) and take a head count of female players. Oddly enough, despite the low percentage of female players, there were three different tables with three females in the tournament.

-- All players who make it to the final table this year (the November Nine) will earn at least $1 million. The 2009 world champion will collect $8,546,435 for first place (plus slightly more money in added interest).

-- With registration for this year's Main Event, the World Series of Poker crossed the $1,000,000,000 threshold in total prize money awarded to players. During its 40-year history, the WSOP has paid out $1,041,265,271. Incredibly, more than $600,000,000 has been paid out just in the last five years alone, since Harrah's Entertainment assumed control of the tournament. Here is the historical prize pool information for the World Series of Poker.

2009 -- $174,011,894
2008 -- $180,774,427
2007 -- $159,796,918
2006 -- $159,599,815
1970-2005 -- $354,000,000

-- This is the 57th and final event on the 2009 WSOP schedule which is played in Las Vegas. Four more gold bracelet events will take place later this year in London, England at the Empire Casino, to be held from September 19th through October 1st.

-- Players have come to the WSOP from at least 115 different nations and territories. By contrast, only 80 nations were represented at the most recent Winter Olympic Games.

-- This marks the fifth consecutive year the WSOP has been held at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino. Prior to 2005, the WSOP was held at Binion's Horseshoe in downtown Las Vegas. More money has been awarded to winners within the Rio during the past five years than during the entire proceeding 35-year period at the Horseshoe. This is a testament to the expansion of the WSOP since Harrah's Entertainment assumed ownership and control of the world most prestigious poker event.

New Records Set at the 2009 WSOP

MOST WSOP SELL OUTS

Ten tournaments reached maximum capacity at this year's WSOP. This is the most gold bracelet events ever to sell out within a single year. A complete "sell out" means every seat at every available table is sold and additional players are/were turned away at registration. Sell-outs are based on various numbers, which include the total tables and seats available for tournament use. Events which sold out this year included: 4, 7, 22, 24, 28, 29, 39, 43, 51, and 54. Note that the Main Event also partially sold out, since Day 1-D reached full capacity - which means 11 events reached the maximum, in part.

MOST MILLION-DOLLAR TOURNAMENTS IN HISTORY

This year's WSOP had more tournaments with more than $1 million in prize money than any other. There were 39 events out of 57 which crossed the million-dollar mark.

MOST TOURNAMENT ENTRANTS IN A SINGLE YEAR

The 2009 WSOP attracted 60,875 tournament entries overall. This mark eclipses the previous record set last year which was 58,720. These figures do not include WSOP-Europe.

FIRST NON-MAIN EVENT, NON-MEGA BUY-IN EVENT PRODUCES A $1 MILLION FIRST PRIZE

Every single gold bracelet winner won at least $165,000. Most winners won in excess of $300,000. However, for the first time ever - the winner of a non-Main Event/non-mega buy-in tournament won more than $1 million. Matthew Hawrilenko's victory in the $5,000 buy-in No-Limit Hold'em tournament (Event #56) netted him a cash prize totaling $1,003,218.

LARGEST NON-WSOP MAIN EVENT TOURNAMENT IN HISTORY - FIFTH-BIGGEST OVERALL

The $1,000 buy-in No-Limit Hold'em tournament (Event 4) is the largest non-WSOP Main Event tournament in poker history. The previous record was set at the 2008 WSOP when the first No-Limit Hold'em competition ($1,500 buy-in Event #2) attracted 3,929 entrants. The number of players in the $1,000 buy-in "Stimulus Special" - 6,012! - demolished the previous mark and represented a whopping 53 percent increase in attendance over the previous record many initially thought might not be broken for some time! Note: LARGEST WSOP EVENTS IN HISTORY: Here is a ranking of the six largest live poker tournaments in history:

8,773 players -- 2006 WSOP Main Event
6,844 players -- 2008 WSOP Main Event
6,358 players -- 2007 WSOP Main Event
6,494 players - 2009 WSOP Main Event
6,012 players -- 2009 WSOP Event 4

YOUNGEST FINAL TABLE IN HISTORY

The $5,000 No-Limit Hold'em Shootout (Event 41) was the youngest final table composition in WSOP history, with player ages ranging from 21 (youngest) to 24 (oldest).

SECOND-LONGEST FINAL TABLE IN POKER HISTORY

The $50,000 buy-in H.O.R.S.E. World Championship (Event 49) was the second-longest finale in poker history - both by time and number of hands: Longest WSOP Final Tables (Time Duration)

19 hours/9 minutes -- 2008 WSOP-Europe Championship
18 hours/44 minutes - 2009 H.O.R.S.E. Championship
16 hours (estimated) -- 2005 $1,500 Razz Championship
14 hours/30 minutes - 2005 WSOP Main Event
14 hours - 2006 H.O.R.S.E. Championship

Longest WSOP Final Tables (Number of Hands)

484 - 2008 WSOP-Europe Championship
480 - 2009 H.O.R.S.E. Championship
354 - 2006 H.O.R.S.E. Championship
341 - 2007 H.O.R.S.E. Championship
314 - 2008 H.O.R.S.E. Championship

(Note: Number of hands was not recorded for WSOP events prior to 2003)

FIRST-EVER BINION'S CUP ATTRACTS MOST FORMER WORLD CHAMPIONS EVER TO PLAY IN ONE EVENT

The winner of the inaugural "Binion's Cup Champions Invitational was designated "The Champion of Champions." The honors belongs to Atom McEvoy, the winner. It was the largest collection of WSOP current and former world champions ever in history. There were 19 former champions entered in last year's Main Event, but this tournament had twenty.

LARGEST SEVEN-CARD STUD HIGH-LOW SPLIT PRIZE IN HISTORY

Event 37 was the richest Seven-Card Stud High-Low Split prize pool in poker history at $1,541,600. It eclipsed last year's previous record by more than $300,000. This was only the second million-dollar prize pool ever for any Seven-Card Stud High-Low Split tournament.

LARGEST SENIORS POKER EVENT IN HISTORY

The Seniors Championship was the largest such event in poker history. The turnout of 2,707 this year shattered last year's record of 2,218 (then, a record high). The 2009 figure represents a 22 percent increase over 2008. Records were also smashed for largest prize pool and biggest cash prize ever paid in a seniors' poker event.

LARGEST OMAHA-HIGH LOW SPLIT TOURNAMENT IN HISTORY

This was the largest live Omaha High-Low Split tournament in history. The previous record was set at the 2008 WSOP when the same event attracted 833 players. The number of entrants this year - 918 - smashed the previous mark and represented a nine percent increase in attendance over the same tournament held last year.

LARGEST 2-7 LOWBALL TOURNAMENT IN HISTORY

Last year's event attracted 238 entries. Entries increased by 8 percent to 258 players in 2009. Event 55 was the largest Limit Deuce-to-Seven Triple Draw Lowball tournament in poker history.

LARGEST POT-LIMIT OMAHA TOURNAMENT IN HISTORY

The $1,500 buy-in Pot-Limit Omaha event (Event 5) attracted 809 entrants. This is the largest live Pot-Limit Omaha tournament in poker history.

LARGEST LIVE SIX-HANDED POKER TOURNAMENT IN HISTORY

Event #9 was the largest live Six-Handed tournament in history - with 1,459 players.

MOST CASHES IN WSOP HISTORY

Phil Hellmuth added to his status as the all-time leader in WSOP cashes, now with 74 career in-the-money finishes.

MOST CONSECUTIVE YEARS TO CASH AT WSOP

Berry Johnston's in-the-money finish in a gold bracelet tournament this year gives the 1986 World Champion cashes for 27 Straight WSOP Years -- the most in history.

MOST GOLD BRACELET WINS IN A SINGLE YEAR

Jeffrey Lisandro tied the mark for most wins in a single year, with three. He is the fifth player to accomplish this feat.

FIRST HUNGARIAN WSOP WINNER IN HISTORY

Peter Traply became the first Hungarian WSOP champion in history. The best previous finish by a Hungarian player was Richard Toth, who finished second in 2006.

IVEY MOVES INTO TIE FOR SIXTH-PLACE IN WSOP WINS

With his two victories this year, Phil Ivey joins Billy Baxter with seven WSOP titles, which ranks sixth on the all-time wins list. Still remaining ahead of Ivey are Phil Hellmuth (11 wins), Doyle Brunson (10 wins), Johnny Moss (10 wins), Johnny Moss (9 wins), and Erik Seidel (8 wins).