Home » News » 2024 WSOP Daily Recap: Series Kicks Off With the Brand New $5K Champions Reunion; 2016 Main Event Champ Qui Nguyen Bags Chip Lead
The world’s biggest poker spectacle, the 2024 World Series of Poker (WSOP), has kicked off in Las Vegas with a bang! The 55th edition of the iconic tournament series opened its doors at the Paris and Horseshoe Las Vegas, with two thrilling events taking centre stage: the inaugural Event #1: $5,000 Champions Reunion and Event #2: $500 Casino Employees No-Limit Hold’em.
In the highly anticipated $5,000 Champions Reunion, 493 players battled it out for glory, including 22 former WSOP Main Event champions. The event was not just about the substantial $2,047,800 prize pool but also offered a unique incentive: any player who knocked out a former champion would win a coveted entry into the 2024 Main Event. As the dust settled after 16 intense levels, 99 players remained, with 2016 Main Event Champion Qui Nguyen holding a commanding chip lead with 663,000 chips.
Meanwhile, the $500 Casino Employees event shattered expectations with a record-breaking 1,189 entrants, generating a massive $499,380 prize pool. Caleb O’Donnell claimed the Day 1 chip lead, positioning himself for a run at the first of 99 live bracelets to be awarded this summer.
The WSOP stands as the pinnacle of poker, drawing the world’s most skilled and dedicated players. Fierce competition will unfold over the next two months as players chase one of the most prestigious accolades: the WSOP Player of the Year (PoY) title.
For 2024, the WSOP has introduced new rules for the PoY race. Players now need a minimum of five results to qualify, with only their top ten results counting towards their final score. A maximum of one online bracelet result is allowed in these top ten results, ensuring that while online performance is acknowledged, it doesn’t overly dominate the standings.
New PoY Rules:
- 10 Cashes Maximum
- 5 Cashes Minimum
- Best Online Bracelet Cash Counts
2024 PLAYER OF THE YEAR????
The (new) rules are simple:
– 10 Cashes Maximum.
– 5 Cashes Minimum.
– Best Online Bracelet Cash Counts.See AlsoPokerNews Deepstack Championship Takes Center Stage at 2024 WSOPA Hand In Making A Difference: WSOP App Hosts 72-Hour Online Pokerthon in Partnership with Disabled American VeteransYou Win $10,000 in WSOP tournament entries! Which games are you going to play?Event #9: $1,500 Limit Hold'em (8-Handed) | 2024 World Series of PokerHappy hunting! https://t.co/LbVFj2qBlJ pic.twitter.com/0c6H64eUq2
— WSOP – World Series of Poker (@WSOP) May 26, 2024
The 2024 PoY winner will receive:
- 2025 WSOP Main Event seat
- A unique trophy
- A Player of the Year banner at Horseshoe/Paris
The WSOP excitement continues on May 29 with four events in full swing. The Champions Reunion will push towards its final table, while the Casino Employees event will crown its champion. Two new events will also kick off: Event #3: $500 WSOP Kickoff No-Limit Hold’em Freezeout and Event #4: $1,500 Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better, the first non-Hold’em event of the series.
At 10 AM (local time), WSOP Kickoff No-Limit Hold’em Freezeout begins its three-day run. At 2 PM (local time), Omaha Hi-Lo 8 or Better gets underway.
Here’s what went down on Day 1.
Event #1: $5,000 Champions Reunion – Day 1
The World Series of Poker kicked off its 2024 edition with a bang, introducing a brand-new event, Event #1: $5,000 Champions Reunion, on May 28. Held in the storied halls of the Paris and Horseshoe Las Vegas, this event welcomed all living Main Event champions to compete for free, with a tempting twist: any player knocking out a former champ would earn a free seat in the 2024 Main Event.
The event drew a field of 493 players, including 22 past Main Event champions featuring legends like Tom McEvoy, Berry Johnston, Ryan Riess, Scott Blumstein, Espen Jorstad, Koray Aldemir, Greg Raymer, and Phil Hellmuth, all risking their reputations and offering a golden ticket to the Main Event.
After 16 intense levels of play, 99 players survived to advance to Day 2, scheduled to begin on May 29 at noon (local time). Leading the pack is none other than 2016 Main Event champion Qui Nguyen, who bagged an impressive 663,000 chips. Closely following him are China’s Xiaohu Liu (661,000) and Asher Conniff (641,000), setting the stage for a thrilling Day 2.
Other notables like Yuzhou Yin (567,000), Aram Zobian (565,000), and Alex Keating (554,000). Poker legends Dan Harrington (395,000), Jamie Gold (331,000), Greg Merson (209,000), Daniel Negreanu (168,000), and Joe McKeehen (139,000) also managed to navigate the challenging field and will return for another day of action.
The Champions Reunion also saw some dramatic moments, including a hand where Johnny Chan, a former champion himself, busted Chris Moneymaker, avenging his elimination at the hands of Moneymaker during the iconic 2003 Main Event. Additionally, Indo-American bracelet winners Ankush Mandavia (152,000) and Raj Vohra (114,000) successfully secured their places on Day 2.
The remaining players will now compete for their share of the prize pool, with the top 74 finishers guaranteed a minimum payout of $9,141. The ultimate champion will not only claim the coveted WSOP bracelet but also a hefty $408,468 first-place prize.
Top 10 Chip Counts at the End of Day 1
- Qui Nguyen – 663,000
- Xiaohu Liu – 661,000
- Asher Conniff – 641,000
- Yuzu Wang – 574,000
- Yuzhou Yin – 567,000
- Chris Hunichen – 567,000
- Aram Zobian – 565,000
- Roman Pumpernick – 558,000
- Alex Keating – 554,000
- David Coleman – 534,000
Event #2: $500 Casino Employees No-Limit Hold’em – Day 1
The poker tables at the Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas were overflowing with energy as a staggering 1,189 casino employees flocked to participate in Event #2: $500 Casino Employees No-Limit Hold’em. This impressive turnout not only shattered the previous year’s attendance record but also generated a colossal prize pool of $499,380.
After 15 exhilarating levels of play, the field narrowed to 179 skilled players who secured their passage to Day 2. These fortunate survivors are one step closer to claiming the first WSOP gold bracelet of the season and the grand prize of $79,134.
Canada’s Caleb O’Donnell leads the charge into Day 2, boasting a dominant chip stack of 583,000. Following closely behind is Bryan Lapham, armed with 529,000 chips, while Juan Carlos Latuff rounds out the top three with an impressive 479,000 chips.
The remaining field is brimming with notable talent, including Jonathan Sanchez (468,000), Alexander ‘Optinal’ Green (436,000), William McCool (421,000), and the ever-entertaining Michael ‘Skull Mike’ Reisman (233,000). These seasoned players, along with their fellow Day 2 contenders, are poised to return to the Horseshoe at 1 PM (local time) on May 29 for the highly anticipated final showdown.
Top 10 Chip Counts at the End of Day 1
- Caleb O’Donnell – 583,000
- Bryan Lapham – 529,000
- Juan Carlos Latuff – 479,000
- Johnathan Sanchez – 468,000
- Willie Coleman – 451,000
- Andrew Rivero – 443,000
- Alexander Green – 436,000
- Michael Bailey – 434,000
- William McCool – 421,000
- Eric Roberts – 418,000
Content & Images Courtesy: World Series of Poker
Stay tuned to PokerGuru for all the latest updates as the WSOP 2024 unfolds!
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