– Most total registrants. More than 58,500 players have competed in the 55 events at this year’s WSOP, eclipsing the previous record of 54,288 set in 2007.

– Largest total prize pool. At more than $180 million, the 2008 WSOP
prize pool far surpassed the previous record of $159,796,918 set last year.

– Most countries/territories represented. Not including Main Event
participants, players from 104 different countries/territories have
competed in 2008 WSOP events — more than in the 2006 Winter Olympics. The
previous record number of countries represented at the WSOP was 87, also
set in 2007.

– Largest non-Main Event field: 3,929 players each put up $1,500 to
compete in the 2008 WSOP’s first no-limit hold’em tournament that began May
31.

– First Family: The Hinkle brothers, from Kansas City, Mo., became the
first-ever set of brothers to win bracelets in the same year. Grant won
Event #2 and $831,432; Blair won Event #23 and $507,563. The Hinkles become
only the second set of brothers to win bracelets at the WSOP, joining the
Pearsons: Puggy (1973) and J.C. (1994).

“This has been an incredible season and we’re not done yet,” said World Series of Poker Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack. “So far, players from 56 countries, every state in the U.S. and every Canadian province have cashed at this year’s WSOP. When all is said and done, we’re going to award more prize money to more players than at any other point in our illustrious 39-year history.”

The 39th annual World Series of Poker began May 30 and runs through July 14 at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. The Main Event, which required four start dates to accommodate the field of 6,844 players, began on July 3 and is the second-largest live poker tournament ever held. The Final Table will be determined on July 14. The nine players who advance to the Final Table will return to the Rio on Nov. 9 to play down to just two players. The final two will then go head-to-head late in the evening of Nov. 10 to determine the champion and winner of poker’s ultimate prize. The final eight competitors will each win at least $1 million, with the first-place finisher will receiving a staggering $9.1 million.

For more information on the World Series of Poker, please visit our website at http://www.worldseriesofpoker.com.