Can we agree on bigger poker prizes? Poker is undoubtedly an extremely exciting game. There are those who dare to say that it is a bit boring. Well, we always respect everyone’s opinion, but the fact is that a statement. As this can only come from someone who does not understand the game very well and everything behind it. All the atmosphere and tension that a game of poker implies brings with it the exciting reality of betting and strategies to beat each of the opponents. In addition, the great world championships of poker are full of high monetary figures.
Poker moves millions and millions of dollars annually. At every major poker event in the world a new millionaire emerges. It is undeniable that so much money involved in a card game dazzles the fans of this game. So, if you are curious and like stories, in this article we will tell you which tournaments had the highest prizes in poker history. Join us!
World Series of Poker 2006
For the first time in the history of poker, the prize pool of a WSOP Main Event exceeded USD 10,000,000. The WSOP was already very famous not only for being the main global competition of this game, but, above all, for the Very high prizes paid to its winners, far surpassing the other championships.
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However, in 2006, it broke all barriers: USD 12 million. When the event organization announced the value of that year’s prize, the eyes of many players around the world were filled with sparkle and coin symbols to the unmistakable sound of the cash registers… like in cartoons.
As there was a great adhesion of players, much more money entered the wheel. For this reason, the 2006 World Series of Poker also accumulated the record for the most money raised by a tournament champion (that is, in addition to the final prize paid for the event, all other amounts won by the player in the previous rounds): the champion of this historic edition, American Jamie Gold, took home a sum of approximately USD 13,000,000. Would the boy be happy? I suspect yes.
Big One for One Drop 2012, one of the biggest jackpots in poker
By breaking this prize record, the WSOP opened the race for other poker championships to compete for the top prize paid. However, the record was held until 2012, during the Big One for One Drop tournament. It was played in the charming principality of Monaco.
gave its winner, the Iranian Antonio Esfandiari, the impressive prize of USD 18,300,000. It is absurd! Until the time this article is written. The record has yet to be broken. Today Esfandiari is still the player who has won the highest prize in a single poker tournament.
Big One for One Drop 2016
After 2012, the Big One for One Drop tournaments became specialists in grand prizes, although they remained less important than the WSOP. At the 2016 event. Also in Monaco, the championship beat the historic WSOP in 2006 for the second time. This time, the champion, Canadian of Chinese descent Elton Tsang. He won a whopping $ 12.2 million. The prize did not break the 2012 record, though.
