New Online Poker Record By Full Tilt And Pokerstars

Full Tilt Poker does it in style, but Poker Stars reclaims record for biggest ever online poker tournament

Sunday's attempt by Full Tilt Poker.com to stage the biggest online poker tournament ever (and upstage its main rival Poker Stars in the process) was a resounding success, with a massive 50 000 entrants for its $5 buy-in, $500 000 guaranteed event, generating cashes for the top 7 500 spots and a first prize of $45 000.

The record entry field eclipsed the previous record set by Poker Stars earlier this year of 35 000 players in a single tournament, and was observed by the Guinness Book of Records.

Unfortunately for Full Tilt, the Poker Stars people, alerted by the pre-publicity for the record attempt, had planned their own brand of immediate retaliation.

The world's largest online poker site staged a prompt comeback to build an entry field of 65 000 before closing its lists, thus retaining the title. The Poker Stars $1 buy-in, $130 000 guaranteed surprise tournament packed the pokerheads in, leaving a number of players unable to enter due to the enforced cap of 65 000.