Poker is becoming increasingly popular around the world. A World Series of Poker is held every year in Las Vegas, where the winner can win millions of dollars. The televising of Poker has raised it to a quasi-sporting event.

Contestants resulting from a series of WSOP qualifying poker tournaments held throughout the year participated in the WSOP main events which were held recently at the RIO All-Suites Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. At the main events the number of contestants were reduced from 7,319 to the final 9. Final table play to determined the winner will be held at the Rio from November 7th to 9th, 2010.

2010 World Series of Poker Final 9 - See table below.
| Seat | Name | Occupation | No. of Chips |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jason Senti | Poker Pro | $7,625,000 |
| 2 | Joseph Cheong | Poker Pro | $23,525,000 |
| 3 | John Dolan | Poker Pro | $46,250,000 |
| 4 | Jonathan Duhamel | Poker pro | $65,975,000 |
| 5 | Michael Mizrachi | Poker Pro | $14,450,000 |
| 6 | Mathew Jarvis | Poker Pro/Student | $16,700,000 |
| 7 | John Racener | Poker Pro | $19,650,000 |
| 8 | Filippo Candio | Poker Pro | $16,400,000 | 9 | Coung Nguyen | Sales (Medical Supplies) | $9,650,000 |

In 2009 Joseph Cada won the WSOP final table play and became the 2009 world poker champion, taking home the $8.55 million first prize. Joseph Cada is only 21 years old, and became the youngest player to ever win the poker championship.
Cada's opponent in the final table play was Davin Moon, who got $5.18 million for his second place finish.
ESPN broadcasts World Series of Poker events as edited programs. The 2010 final table play will broadcast by ESPN on Nov. 10, 2009.
Both the WSOP and the RIO All Suites Hotel & Casino are owned by Harrah's Entertainment Inc. Harrah's obtained the rights to the Word Series of Poker when they purchased the Binion's Horeshoe Casino in 2004.
The winners of the World Series of Poker over the years from 2000 to 2009 are shown below.
| Year | No. of Entrants | Champion | Top Prize, $ |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 6494 | Joseph Cada | 8,550,000 |
| 2008 | Peter Eastgate | 9,100,000 | |
| 2007 | 6358 | Jerry Yang | 8,250,000 |
| 2006 | 8773 | Jamie Gold | 12,000,000 |
| 2005 | 5619 | Joe Hatchmen | 7,500,000 |
| 2004 | 2576 | Greg Raymer | 5,000,000 |
| 2003 | 839 | Chris Moneymaker | 2,500,000 |
| 2002 | 631 | Robert Vorkonyi | 2,000,000 |
| 2001 | 613 | Juan Carlos Mortensen | 1,500,000 |
| 2000 | 512 | Chris Ferguson | 1,500,000 |
WSOP circuit events for the 2010-11 season will be held at Harrah's on Dec. 4-22, 2010 and at Caesars from March 2-13 in 2011.
| Date | Location |
|---|---|
| Aug. 19 - 31, 2010 | Horeshoe Council Bluffs |
| Oct. 02 - 12, 2010 | Horeshoe Southern Indiana |
| Oct. 15- 27, 2010 | Horshoe Hammond |
| Oct. 26-31, 2010 | Emerald Casino |
| Oct. 28 - Nov. 10, 2010 | IP Casino Resort & Spa |
| Nov. 11 - Nov. 23, 2010 | Harveys Lake Tahoe |
| Dec. 4 - 22, 2010 | Harrah's Atlantic City |
| Jan 27 - Feb. 15, 2011 | Harrah's Tunica |
| Mar.02 - 13, 2011 | Caesars Atlantic City |
| Mar. 11- 30, 2011 | Harrah's Rincon (San Diego) |
| Mar. 31- Apr. 13, 2011 | Harrah's St. Louis |
| Apr. 14 - 30, 2011 | Caesars Palace |
| May 09-22, 2011 | Harrah's New Orleans |