The first two of four starting flights played out this weekend on the Winning Poker Network
The biggest guaranteed prize pool poker tournament in U.S. history is halfway through the Day 1 flights. Day 1A and Day 1B played out over the weekend on the Winning Poker Network and the turnout for both points to the possibility of the tournament far surpassing the guarantee.
The $8 Million Guaranteed Venom kicked off this weekend with opening day flights playing out on Friday, Jan. 22, and Sunday, Jan. 24. The $2,650 buy-in tournament drew 1,431 total combined entries for Day 1A and Day 1B.
That attendance puts the tournament almost halfway to the guarantee, with the 1,431 entrants stocking $3,577,500 in the prize pool. Poker tournaments with multiple Day 1 flights generally see a big upswing in registration for later flights, and if that holds true the final prize pool for this edition of the Venom could smash the $8 million guarantee.
Play resumes with Day 1C on Friday, Jan. 29. The final of the four starting flights, Day 1D, commences Sunday, Jan. 31.
Both of the two remaining starting flights begin at 1 pm EST. If poker tournament norms play out in The Venom, the Day 1D flight will draw the biggest attendance of the four starting days.
All surviving players from the Day 1 flights come back as a combined player pool for Day 2, which resumes Monday, Feb. 1. The final table plays out Wednesday, February 3, with at least $1 million guaranteed to the winner.
The grand prize could end up well over that mark, however. The August 2020 edition of The Venom guaranteed $7 million, but the prize pool ended up at $9.68 million.
A total of 3,872 entries registered for what was at the time the biggest guarantee ever offered in a WPN event. Both of the top two finishers ended up taking home more than $1.28 million.
$8 Million Guaranteed Venom Day 1A and Day 1B play out
The Jan. 22 Day 1A flight gave WPN players their first shot at advancing in the unprecedented $8 million guaranteed tournament.
Day 1A ended up with 503 registrants in the unlimited re-entry tournament. From that field, 77 players advanced to Day 2.
Some of those surviving 77 players fired as many as four bullets on opening day, including online tournament fixture ‘freierboy.’
Day 1B saw attendance swell to 928 entries, with 147 making it through to the end of the day. Those players that survived the nearly 12-hour flight await the survivors of the other three flights when Day 2 commences on Feb. 1.
Players making it through Day 1 can still play other Day 1 flights if they wish. Any player making it through more than 1 Day 1 flight takes their biggest stack to Day 2.
Keep it right here at Poker.org for the latest on the $8 Million Guaranteed Venom, as Day 1C and Day 1D play out this weekend.
