WSOP Paradise beats the $60 million guarantee

If the War of December is still a thing in poker, the WSOP has won, as it eclipses the WPT World Championship and crushes the $60m guarantees.

If you guarantee it, they will come. 

WSOP Paradise built on an already lofty Super Main Event last year by offering a $60 million guarantee this year, begging the question were there 2,400 $25k buy-ins in the poker community willing to travel to the Bamahas in December? 

It seems there were. The $60 million guarantee was actually shattered before Day 2d late registration closed. The final numbers were 2,891 entries, creating a $72,275,000 prize pool. Comfortably beating last year's 1,978 entries for the Super Main Event, which ended in an overlay. 

What made this event unique, and is a format that may be replicated in 2026, was the day 1 structure. There were two Day 1s followed by a Day 2, but afterwards two more Day 1s followed by a final Day 2. Something which has encouraged some, shall we say, aggressive re-entry strategies. Most notably Daniel Negreanu who entered 10 times and another player rumoured to have entered 14 times.  

Almost 2k for the WPT Championship

If you believe WSOP Paradise is still in direct competition with the WPT World Championship, then it appears the WSOP has won this year. 

The numbers are in for the World Poker Tour and their marquee event attracted 1,865 runners creating a $18,277,000 prize pool. Not as big as previous years but remember that there was no guarantee in this event, fewer re-entries and it is commonly agreed that the two events cater to different demographics these days. 

The eventual winner of that event will earn $2,582,2000. At the time of writing the WSOP Paradise prize pool has not been confirmed.