GGPoker accepted the Guinness World Record title for its $5,000 WSOP Online Main Event this summer that had over $27 million in the pot. The lengthy tournament began in August and concluded on September 6 with Bulgaria's Stoyan Madanzhiev taking down the $3.9 million first place prize along with the coveted gold World Series of Poker bracelet.
Madanzhiev defeated a massive field of 5,802 runners. In doing so, he won the largest first place prize in online poker history in the tournament that set the record for the largest prize pool.
The $5,000 WSOP Online Main Event replaced the annual $10,000 Main Event in Las Vegas, which was canceled due to COVID-19.
Exciting moment for poker site
GGPoker knew they set the world record for largest prize pool at $27,559,500 in the Main Event. But, as ambassador Daniel Negreanu said in a video, it was important for them to be recognized in the Guinness Book of World Records. So, the poker pro stated, his poker site filed an application with Guinness to receive that recognition.
On Wednesday, Negreanu invited the Official Adjudicator for Guinness World Records, Michael Empric, to his YouTube channel to publicly announce the company's decision on GGPoker's application.
"At Guinness World Records, we're always looking for new, incredible, record-breaking achievements," Empric told Negreanu in the video. "We received your application for the largest prize pool for an online poker tournament. We've reviewed the evidence, gone through all the details, and today I can announce that GGPoker, with a measurement of $27,559,500 has shattered the Guinness World Records title. Congratulations, Daniel."
"That's awesome," an ecstatic poker pro responded. "Thank you so much, man. Thanks to all of you that played in the World Series of Poker this year. I'm so proud of GGPoker and the WSOP and that we crushed this record. So, thanks Michael, it's an honor."
Steve Preiss, Head of Poker Operations at GGPoker, said in a press release that the Guinness World Records was on his company's radar for quite some time. The prestige of being recognized by Guinness is great marketing for a growing poker site such as GGPoker.
The 2020 WSOP Main Event on GGPoker had over $27 million in the prize pool. That crushed the previous record of $21.8 million set in 2018 during the Partypoker Millions Online, a $5,300 buy-in tournament. The 2019 Partypoker Millions Online, this time a $10,300 buy-in, came close to matching that record but fell just short with $21.1 million in prize money awarded.
Featured image source: Twitter
