The World Series of Poker has drawn its second largest field in Main Event history, tournament officials announced Wednesday night.
The $10,000 buy-in No Limit Texas Hold’em World Championship drew 7,874 entries over the tournament’s four-day opening round at the Rio in Las Vegas, the highest number of players since the 2006 Main Event drew a field of 8,773 entrants.
The prize pool for the 2018 Main Event will be $74.015 million with the winner expected to take home $8.8 million, the fifth largest top prize in WSOP history. The champion will be determined on July 14.
The 2017 Main Event was won by Scott Blumstein of New Jersey who defeated a field of 7,221 entries to take home $8.15 million.
WSOP officials said the final table of nine players in this year’s Main Event will each win at least $1 million. Money will be paid through 1,881st place, the most cashes in Main Event history.
ESPN or ESPN2 will air at least three hours of coverage every day leading up to the final table, which will be shown in its entirety.
