Earlier this month, Card Player reported that the 2015 World Series of Poker’s $565 buy-in “Colossus” was, on paper, likely already the largest live poker tournament in history. On Thursday, just a day before the event began, the WSOP said that 14,000 players have already signed up.
The event has two starting days—Friday, May 29 and Saturday, May 30.
“Big thanks to the [roughly] 14,000 who have already registered 24 hours before the Colossus even begins,” WSOP Executive Director Ty Stewart said on Twitter. “Going to make the next 48 hours a lot more fun.”
“Who knew poker players could plan ahead,” he added. “And hell hasn’t frozen over.”
There is still plenty of room left in the event, as the WSOP said earlier this year that roughly 24,200 players is the most it could host for the $5 million guarantee tournament.
Registration will close on Saturday.
The 2006 main event officially still holds the record with 8,773 players. The current record for a live re-entry tournament was last year’s $1,500 buy-in “Millionaire Maker” which drew 7,977 entries. Players in the Colossus can re-enter up to four times.
The 2015 WSOP began on Wednesday with the start of the casino employees event.
