Total prize at the 2007 World Series of Poker
Top prize at the 2007 World Series of Poker will be $8.25 million based on the 6,358 players who have entered the no-limit Texas Hold em main event over the tournaments four starting days. Organizers revised the payoff up from the previously announced $8.23 million and said Monday about $59.8 million will be paid out of the tournaments pot to players who finish in the money. The totals are short of last years record 8,773 participants and $12 million top prize. But it comes nine months after President Bush signed a law cracking down on Internet gambling, which is blamed for shrinking the number of entrants who would have qualified in online tournaments. The field is still massive, and several Poker Player Pros, including 2004 champion Greg Raymer, Doyle Texas Dolly Brunson and Phil Ivey, have been bounced already. Of the 4,569 players who participated in the $10,000 buy-in tournaments first three days, 1,698 remain. For the poker-playing world, the main event at the World Series is the years pinnacle event, where the cards can be cruel and only the skilled, as well as the lucky -Â survive. 
The field also is filled with amateur players who took vacations to play against the games biggest stars for a shot at overcoming staggering odds to win a staggering pot. Nine players will sit down at the final table on July 17 to determine a winner.