The 2008 World Series of Poker was the 39th annual World Series of Poker (WSOP). Held in Las Vegas, Nevada at the Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino, the 2008 series began on May 30 and featured 55 poker championships in several variants. All events but the $10,000 World Championship No Limit Texas hold 'em Main Event, the most prestigious of the WSOP events, ended by July 15. The final table, known as the November Nine, of the Main Event was suspended until November, to allow for better television coverage. As a WSOP custom since 1976, each of the event winners received a championship bracelet in addition to that event's prize money ranging from US$87,929 for the $500 Casino Employees No-Limit Hold'em to US$9,119,517 for the Main Event.
Most of the tournaments played at the WSOP are variants of Texas Hold 'em. Hold 'em is a community card game where each player may use any combination of the five community cards and the player's own two hole cards to make a poker hand, in contrast to poker variants such as stud or draw in which each player holds a separate individual hand. Between 2000 and 2009, hold'em has surpassed seven-card stud as the most common game in U.S. casinos, almost totally eclipsing the once popular game. Seven-card stud is a poker variant wherein each player is dealt two hole card, followed by four face up cards, and then another hidden card, with betting after each round. Another poker variant played is Omaha. Omaha is a version of poker wherein each player is dealt four hole cards and must use two of them in conjunction with three community cards to make the best possible five card hand. Other games played at the 2008 tournament included Razz, HORSE, and Deuce-to-Seven.
Within each of these poker variants a myriad of options exist. For example, depending on the betting structure, a tournament might be described as no limit, limit or pot-limit. Games may also include other variations on the rules governing the execution of the specific game such as shootout, eight or better, or heads up.
Highlights of the 2008 series include the selection of Erick Lindgren as the Player of the Year. Before the 2008 WSOP, Lindgren, who won a bracelet and made three final tables, was widely considered to be the "best player to never win a WSOP bracelet”. Phil Hellmuth, a Poker Hall of Famer, set new records for the most WSOP career cashes (68) and most WSOP career final tables (41). Nikolay Evdakov led all players with a record 10 money finishes. The Main Event, which began with 6,844 participants (a level exceeded only by the number of participants at the 2006 event), was suspended once the event was down to the nine players needed for the final table; the Main Event was resumed on November 9 and concluded with the heads-up final between Peter Eastgate and Ivan Demidov the next day. This year was the first in which the Main Event was suspended in this fashion, a change introduced at ESPN's request to allow the television network to do a same-day Main Event broadcast.
3-Day Event: Friday May 30, 2008 to Sunday June 1, 2008Number of Entries: 352Total Prize Pool: $7006330880000000000♠3,308,800Number of Payouts: 36Winning Hand: 7♥ 5♥References4-Day Event: Saturday May 31, 2008 to Tuesday June 3, 2008Number of Entries: 3929Total Prize Pool: $7006536308500000000♠5,363,085Number of Payouts: 378Winning Hand: 10♦ 4♦Other: Broke the record for largest field in a tournament that was not the WSOP main event.References3-Day Event: Monday June 2, 2008 to Wednesday June 4, 2008Number of Entries: 714Total Prize Pool: $7005973245000000000♠973,245Number of Payouts: 72Winning Hand: Q♠ 4♠References3-Day Event: Monday June 2, 2008 to Wednesday June 4, 2008Number of Entries: 332Total Prize Pool: $7006156040000000000♠1,560,400Number of Payouts: 36Winning Hand: A♥ 2♦References3-Day Event: Tuesday June 3, 2008 to Thursday June 5, 2008Number of Entries: 766Number of Rebuys/Add-ons: 2,258Total Prize Pool: $7006289409400000000♠2,894,094Number of Payouts: 72Winning Hand: A♦ J♣References3-Day Event: Tuesday June 3, 2008 to Thursday June 5, 2008Number of Entries: 833Total Prize Pool: $7006124950000000000♠1,249,500Number of Payouts: 81Winning Hand: K♦ 4♦ 7♥ 3♠References3-Day Event: Wednesday June 4, 2008 to Friday June 6, 2008Number of Entries: 1592Total Prize Pool: $7006289744000000000♠2,897,440Number of Payouts: 153Winning Hand: 10♠ 6♥References3-Day Event: Wednesday June 4, 2008 to Friday June 6, 2008Number of Entries: 192Total Prize Pool: $7006180480000000000♠1,804,800Number of Payouts: 24Winning Hand: A♠ K♥ (No-Limit Hold'em)ReferencesNote: This event comprised eight poker variants played on a rotating format with one-hour long levels. Every eight hands the game alternated in the following order: Limit Deuce-to-Seven Triple Draw, Limit Hold'em, Limit Omaha Hi-Low Split-8 or Better, Razz, Seven-Card Stud, Seven-Card Stud-8 or Better, No-Limit Hold'em, Pot-Limit Omaha.
Event 9: $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em (Six-Handed)
3-Day Event: Thursday June 5, 2008 to Saturday June 7, 2008Number of Entries: 1,236Total Prize Pool: $7006168741000000000♠1,687,410Number of Payouts: 126Winning Hand: K♣ Q♠References3-Day Event: Thursday June 5, 2008 to Saturday June 7, 2008Number of Entries: 388Total Prize Pool: $7005892400000000000♠892,400Number of Payouts: 40Winning Hand: 3♦ 8♣ 2♥ 9♠References3-Day Event: Friday June 6, 2008 to Sunday June 8, 2008Number of Entries: 360Total Prize Pool: $7006169200000000000♠1,692,000Number of Payouts: 36Winning Hand: A♦ J♣References3-Day Event: Friday June 6, 2008 to Sunday June 8, 2008Number of Entries: 881Total Prize Pool: $7006120120000000000♠1,201,200Number of Payouts: 81Winning Hand: 10♥ 3♥References3-Day Event: Saturday June 7, 2008 to Monday June 9, 2008Number of Entries: 1,397Total Prize Pool: $7006321310000000000♠3,213,100Number of Payouts: 99Winning Hand: A♠ A♣References3-Day Event: Saturday June 7, 2008 to Monday June 9, 2008Number of Entries: 158Total Prize Pool: $7006148520000000000♠1,485,200Number of Payouts: 16Winning Hand: A♥ 5♠ 5♦ 3♦ A♦ 7♦ Q♦References3-Day Event: Sunday June 8, 2008 to Tuesday June 10, 2008Number of Entries: 1,190Total Prize Pool: $7006108290000000000♠1,082,900Number of Payouts: 99Winning Hand: K♠ K♣References3-Day Event: Sunday June 8, 2008 to Tuesday June 10, 2008Number of Entries: 553Total Prize Pool: $7006100282000000000♠1,002,820Number of Payouts: 54Winning Hand: 4♠ 5♦ J♥ 2♥References2-Day Event: Monday June 9, 2008 to Tuesday June 10, 2008Number of Entries: 1,000Total Prize Pool: $7006137059600000000♠1,370,596Number of Payouts: 100Winning Hand: A♣ J♦References3-Day Event: Monday June 9, 2008 to Wednesday June 11, 2008Number of Entries: 85Number of Rebuys/Add-ons: 272Total Prize Pool: $7006173502000000000♠1,735,020Number of Payouts: 14Winning Hand: Q♥ 8♥ 7♣ 4♠ 3♦References3-Day Event: Tuesday June 10, 2008 to Thursday June 12, 2008Number of Entries: 759Total Prize Pool: $7006103603500000000♠1,036,035Number of Payouts: 72Winning Hand: 9♦ 2♣ J♠ J♣References3-Day Event: Tuesday June 10, 2008 to Thursday June 12, 2008Number of Entries: 480Total Prize Pool: $7005873600000000000♠873,600Number of Payouts: 45Winning Hand: 9♠ 5♥References3-Day Event: Wednesday June 11, 2008 to Friday June 13, 2008Number of Entries: 731Total Prize Pool: $7006343570000000000♠3,435,700Number of Payouts: 72Winning Hand: K♠ 9♣References3-Day Event: Wednesday June 11, 2008 to Friday June 13, 2008Number of Entries: 414Total Prize Pool: $7006114264000000000♠1,142,640Number of Payouts: 40Winning Hand: 5♦ 5♣ 7♣ A♣ J♥ J♦ (Stud)References3-Day Event: Thursday June 12, 2008 to Saturday June 14, 2008Number of Entries: 1,344Total Prize Pool: $7006244608000000000♠2,446,080Number of Payouts: 99Winning Hand: 6♥ 6♣References3-Day Event: Thursday June 12, 2008 to Saturday June 14, 2008Number of Entries: 457Total Prize Pool: $7006105110000000000♠1,051,100Number of Payouts: 45Winning Hand: K♥ J♥ 8♣ 7♠References3-Day Event: Friday June 13, 2008 to Sunday June 15, 2008Number of Entries: 256Total Prize Pool: $7006240640000000000♠2,406,400Number of Payouts: 64Winning Hand: A♣ 8♣References3-Day Event: Friday June 13, 2008 to Sunday June 15, 2008Number of Entries: 453Total Prize Pool: $7005618345000000000♠618,345Number of Payouts: 48Winning Hand: J-9-7-4-A-9-4References3-Day Event: Saturday June 14, 2008 to Monday June 16, 2008Number of Entries: 2,706Total Prize Pool: $7006369369000000000♠3,693,690Number of Payouts: 270Winning Hand: A♠ J♣References3-Day Event: Saturday June 14, 2008 to Monday June 16, 2008Number of Entries: 152Number of Rebuys/Add-ons: 483Total Prize Pool: $7006308593000000000♠3,085,930Number of Payouts: 18Winning Hand: A♥ 7♥ 6♣ 5♣References3-Day Event: Sunday June 15, 2008 to Tuesday June 17, 2008Number of Entries: 716Total Prize Pool: $7006197616000000000♠1,976,160Number of Payouts: 72Winning Hand: A♥ 9♠References3-Day Event: Sunday June 15, 2008 to Tuesday June 17, 2008Number of Entries: 218Total Prize Pool: $7006204920000000000♠2,049,200Number of Payouts: 27Winning Hand: A♣ 5♦ReferencesEvent 31: $2,500 No-Limit Hold'em (Six-Handed)
3-Day Event: Monday June 16, 2008 to Wednesday June 18, 2008Number of Entries: 1,012Total Prize Pool: $7006232760000000000♠2,327,600Number of Payouts: 108Winning Hand: Q♦ Q♠References3-Day Event: Tuesday June 17, 2008 to Thursday June 19, 2008Number of Entries: 2,304Total Prize Pool: $7006314496000000000♠3,144,960Number of Payouts: 198Winning Hand: A♦ 7♥References3-Day Event: Tuesday June 17, 2008 to Thursday June 19, 2008Number of Entries: 261Total Prize Pool: $7006122670000000000♠1,226,700Number of Payouts: 24Winning Hand: 6♥ 2♦ 7♣ 4♠ Q♠ 4♦ 7♦ (two-pair no low)References3-Day Event: Wednesday June 18, 2008 to Friday June 20, 2008Number of Entries: 320Number of Rebuys/Add-ons: 1,350Total Prize Pool: $7006240712500000000♠2,407,125Number of Payouts: 36Winning Hand: K♣ K♥ J♥ 2♠References3-Day Event: Wednesday June 18, 2008 to Friday June 20, 2008Number of Entries: 381Total Prize Pool: $7005510705000000000♠510,705Number of Payouts: 40Winning Hand: K♦ K♥ Q♥ 8♠ 7♥ 2♣ A♦References3-Day Event: Thursday June 19, 2008 to Saturday June 21, 2008Number of Entries: 2,447Total Prize Pool: $7006334015500000000♠3,340,155Number of Payouts: 198Winning Hand: Q♠ Q♦References3-Day Event: Thursday June 19, 2008 to Saturday June 21, 2008Number of Entries: 235Total Prize Pool: $7006220900000000000♠2,209,000Number of Payouts: 27Winning Hand: 10♣ 10♥ Q♣ 3♥References3-Day Event: Friday June 20, 2008 to Sunday June 22, 2008Number of Entries: 605Total Prize Pool: $7006110110000000000♠1,101,100Number of Payouts: 63Winning Hand: A♦ Q♠References3-Day Event: Saturday June 21, 2008 to Monday June 23, 2008Number of Entries: 2,720Total Prize Pool: $7006371280000000000♠3,712,800Number of Payouts: 270Winning Hand: 10♥ 10♦References3-Day Event: Sunday June 22, 2008 to Tuesday June 24, 2008Number of Entries: 238Total Prize Pool: $7005547400000000000♠547,400Number of Payouts: 24Winning Hand: 7♦ 6♥ 4♠ 3♥ 2♠References3-Day Event: Sunday June 22, 2008 to Tuesday June 24, 2008Number of Entries: 731Total Prize Pool: $7005996450000000000♠996,450Number of Payouts: 72Winning Hand: A♠ 3♥References3-Day Event: Monday June 23, 2008 to Wednesday June 25, 2008Number of Entries: 2,218Total Prize Pool: $7006201838000000000♠2,018,380Number of Payouts: 198Winning Hand: 9♦ 7♥References3-Day Event: Tuesday June 24, 2008 to Thursday June 26, 2008Number of Entries: 720Total Prize Pool: $7005982800000000000♠982,800Number of Payouts: 72Winning Hand: A♠ 3♠ Q♣ Q♥References3-Day Event: Wednesday June 25, 2008 to Friday June 27, 2008Number of Entries: 879Number of Rebuys/Add-ons: 2,508Total Prize Pool: $7006324017400000000♠3,240,174Number of Payouts: 81Winning Hand: A♥ J♦References5-Day Event: Wednesday June 25, 2008 to Sunday June 29, 2008Number of Entries: 148Total Prize Pool: $7006710400000000000♠7,104,000Number of Payouts: 16Winning Hand: A♦ 10♥ (Hold'em)ReferencesEvent 46: $5,000 No-Limit Hold'em (Six-Handed)
3-Day Event: Thursday June 26, 2008 to Saturday June 28, 2008Number of Entries: 805Total Prize Pool: $7006378350000000000♠3,783,500Number of Payouts: 78Winning Hand: A♦ Q♠References3-Day Event: Thursday June 26, 2008 to Saturday June 28, 2008Number of Entries: 544Total Prize Pool: $7005742560000000000♠742,560Number of Payouts: 56Winning Hand: 7♣ 7♥ 3♠ K♥ 4♥ 3♦ 7♠References3-Day Event: Friday June 27, 2008 to Sunday June 29, 2008Number of Entries: 2,317Total Prize Pool: $7006421694000000000♠4,216,940Number of Payouts: 198Winning Hand: A♠ K♠Other: Nikolay Evdakov sets new record for most WSOP cashes in a single year with nine.Other: Alexandre Gomes becomes the first WSOP bracelet winner from South America.References3-Day Event: Saturday June 28, 2008 to Monday June 30, 2008Number of Entries: 2,718Total Prize Pool: $7006371007000000000♠3,710,070Number of Payouts: 270Winning Hand: K♣ Q♣References3-Day Event: Sunday June 29, 2008 to Tuesday July 1, 2008Number of Entries: 381Total Prize Pool: $7006358140000000000♠3,581,400Number of Payouts: 36Winning Hand: K♣ Q♦ J♣ J♠Other: Nikolay Evdakov extends his single-year record for WSOP cashes with 10.References3-Day Event: Sunday June 29, 2008 to Tuesday July 1, 2008Number of Entries: 803Total Prize Pool: $7006109609500000000♠1,096,095Number of Payouts: 80Winning Hand: 10♣ 8♠ 6♥ 8♣ 9♥ 8♥ A♣ (Stud-8)References3-Day Event: Monday June 30, 2008 to Wednesday July 2, 2008Number of Entries: 2,693Total Prize Pool: $7006367594500000000♠3,675,945Number of Payouts: 270Winning Hand: 10♥ 10♣References2-Day Event: Tuesday July 1, 2008 to Wednesday July 2, 2008Number of Entries: 823Total Prize Pool: $7006112339500000000♠1,123,395Number of Payouts: 90Winning Hand: A♦ J♦References12-Day Event: Thursday July 3, 2008 to Monday July 14, 2008Final Table: Sunday November 9, 2008 to Monday November 10, 2008Number of Entries: 6,844Total Prize Pool: $7007643336000000000♠64,333,600Number of Payouts: 666Winning Hand: A♦ 5♠References2-Day Event: Monday July 7, 2008 to Tuesday July 8, 2008Number of Entries: 930Total Prize Pool: $7005418500000000000♠418,500Number of Payouts: 90Winning Hand: unknownReferences