The 2023 World Series of Poker (WSOP) continues to set new standards. The latest event to break multiple records is the $1,500 Millionaire Maker.
The WSOP Millionaire Maker has, as its name suggests, been making millionaires since 2013. The inaugural event was a reaction to the changing demographics of poker. With more recreational and low-stakes players heading to Las Vegas for the WSOP, the organizers responded by creating a $1,500 tournament with a guaranteed top prize of $1 million.
Benny Chen beat 6,343 entrants to win the 2013 Millionaire Maker. Since then, fields have continued to increase in size and, this year, more records were broken. Day 2 came to a conclusion on Sunday and, with the registration desks finally closed, the total number of entrants stopped at 10,416.
Players of all kinds play for $14 million
That number means 1,563 players will win a share of almost $14 million. It also means the winner and this year’s runner-up will each win over $1 million. Those are impressive stats, but there are more.
The 2023 WSOP Millionaire Maker now stands as the largest poker event of its kind. Specifically, it’s the largest Million Maker in history and, moreover, it’s the biggest $1,500 live poker tournament ever held.
New types of tournaments come and go in poker. Some ideas hit, others miss. The WSOP’s Millionaire Maker has been an unequivocal hit. The WSOP has long been home to large-scale tournaments, the Main Event being the most notable.
However, for those who can’t afford $10,000 or qualify for the Main Event via a satellite, the Millionaire Maker has filled the void. In fact, it’s not just recreational players and aspiring pros who have embraced the $1,500. Seasoned pros with an eye for value have also made it a must-play event.
Pros out in force at WSOP Millionaire Maker continues to impress
Mega prizepools are often a double-edged sword for those taking a shot at glory. Pros can smell value at 100 paces, so the Millionaire Maker has gradually become harder to beat. That’s apparent looking through this year’s list of Day 2 survivors.
WSOP bracelet-holder and US Poker Open champion Joey Weissman ended Day 2 with the chip lead. Also in the mix with 327 remaining are David Baker, 2013 Millionaire Maker champion Benny Chen, and 2014 WSOP Main Event winner Martin Jacobson.
Despite a shiver of shark-like pros circling, there are plenty of amateurs who could still win. If they can make it over the final few hurdles, a potentially life-changing payday worth $1,201,564 awaits.
Whoever wins, the 2023 Millionaire Maker is another success story for the World Series of Poker. Attracting more than 10,000 entries for any poker tournament is impressive, regardless of the buy-in, so for the WSOP to do it with a $1,500 event is even more notable.
The record-breaking Millionaire Maker is also a positive omen for the rest of the Series. Early hopes were that the $10,000 WSOP Main Event would set a new record and, if things continue as they are, that looks more than possible.
