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2024 has been the year of poker. In a game where most major tournaments and prize pools have reached an all-time high, several top players stood out and shaped the game. From the main WSOP to other tours around the globe, the last 12 months have seen tough battles and big wins from the best poker players of today.
World Series of Poker 2024
Record-Breaking Attendance
The 2024 World Series of Poker (WSOP) is poised to break all previous records in attendance and participation. In 2023, there were 10,043 players, while in 2022, 8,663 were added to the ranks. This year, WSOP is projecting to top 11,000.
The fact that live tournaments currently enjoy such immense popularity, especially after pandemic interruptions over the past few years, speaks to global interest in poker's biggest annual event. As more and more players take a shot at the title in Las Vegas, WSOP retains its prestige as the one to crown the poker champion of the year.
Top Players
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One of the players to watch in the 2024 WSOP is Daniel Weinman. He made poker history in 2023 when he took down the WSOP Main Event for $12.1 million, going up against 8,663 other players.
With that sort of bankroll and fame, Weinman has been one of the most frequent high-roller visitors and part of the professional elite over the past year. His points and dominance have made him the player to beat in any tournament.
WPT Prime Series 2024
Growth and Participation
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The World Poker Tour Prime Series enjoys massive popularity, cementing it as one of the most-played mid-stakes tours on the global poker circuit. This year, WPT Prime has reached 14,647 entries across all events so far, with several events remaining on the schedule, easily clearing the number from last year. Combined prize pools have reached over $14.5 million, showing just how big the series has become, appealing to both amateur and professional players.
The unprecedented turnout is testimony to the huge success the WPT Prime Series has had in spreading world-class poker action to new regions around the world. It has captured the interest of those who play poker online and competitive poker locally across Europe, Latin America, and Asia. The tournament offers attainable buy-ins with thrilling final tables that make WPT Prime a coveted stepping stone for the upcoming talent looking to make their mark on the global poker stage.
Standout Winners
With all the talented competition, a few WPT Prime winners stand out for their skill in the 2024 season.
This May, Taiwan native Jereld Sam clinched a career-defining victory with his win in the WPT Prime Taiwan Main Event for $250,231. He battled through the 582-player field, showcasing the tactics and grit it takes to emerge victorious in a major international championship.
Meanwhile, Marc Sen managed redemption on the WPT Prime tour this year after coming in as a runner-up in Liechtenstein last season. Talented and driven, Sen took down the WPT Prime Liechtenstein Main Event for $236,466 in February this year. With several close calls, Sen proved tough and talented enough to seal the deal as a WPT Prime champion.
EPT Barcelona 2024
Key Event
Across the ocean, the EPT Barcelona has been part of the poker calendar since 2004. In 2023, it had 2,120 entries, and Spanish pro, Marti Roca de Torres, won for $1.56 million after a bruising eight-hour heads-up battle.
Event organizers expect a similar, if not significantly larger, turnout next year. The 2025 edition will take place in August and should seal its position as the ‘must-attend’ annual poker festival. It also gives players and visitors another reason to summer in Barcelona in the new year.
The enduring popularity of EPT Barcelona is inextricably linked to the electric atmosphere it creates at its Casino Barcelona venue each year. Casual players and world-class veterans can bask in the Mediterranean weather, enjoying the vibrancy of Barcelona in the summertime, and businesses get a major boost from the thousands of people attending this event every year.
Poker's Brightest Stars
The best in the game are set to repeat performances and potentially change the face of the tournament. You can expect pros like Daniel Weinman and up-and-comers like Jereld Sam to go head-to-head this year in competitive poker. Record numbers and prize pools mean that poker is set to make waves in the gaming industry, making it an intense and close competition. The landscape changes every season, but new stars will emerge and make their mark — with the current caliber of players, and the titles they’re playing for, only the best can come out on top and join the elite of poker's top performers in 2025.
