Despite a bleak world-wide economy, Black Friday, and competing tournaments around the world, over the past couple of years attendance records have been falling by the wayside at major tournaments, with the latest victim being the World Series of Poker Europe. In Event #2, a €1,000 buy-in NLHE tournament, a total of 771 players registered over the two starting days, easily eclipsing the old mark of 608 set in the same event in 2009.

It should be pointed out that having been held in London, England since its inception, this is the first year that the buy-ins have been measured in Euros, worth substantially less than the British Pound.

The record was likely to fall after Day 1a saw 381 entrants take to the felt in Cannes, France, and with a further 390 players on Day 1b, the record not only fell, but was bested by over 100 entries! 54 players managed to survive Day 1a of the tournament, and these survivors will be joined by a further 51 players who managed to make it through Day 1b with chips left to play with.

There were a number of big names who managed to survive their Day 1 flights, including Brian Roberts, Toby Lewis, Randy Dorfman, McLean Karr, Freddy Bonyadi, Richard Toth, Eric Cajelais, Eoghan O’Dea, Matthew Waxman, Dan Shak, and Dan Kelly on Day 1a, as well as Roberto Romanello, Tyler Kenny, Vanessa Selbst, Kevin MacPhee, Aaron Jones, Lars Bonding, Maria Ho, Peter Jetten and Scotty Nguyen on Day 1b.

Here is a look at the chip-leaders from Day 1a:

1. Andrew Hinrichsen — 63,900

2. Gianluca Speranza — 54,000

3. Carlo Savinelli — 52,400

4. Brian Roberts — 43,400

5. Toby Lewis — 38,000

6. Randy Dorfman — 35,000

7. McLean Karr — 34,000

8. Farzad Bonyadi — 28,000

9. Ricardo Pereira — 26,000

10. Richard Toth — 22,000

Here is a look at the unofficial chip-leaders at the end of Day 1b:

1. Yannick Autaa — 60,000

2. Eric Baudry — 58,300

3. Adam Palethorpe — 48,500

4. Tarcisio Bruno — 42,500

5. Christopher Sly — 40,400

6. James Mitchell — 40,000

7. Roberto Romanello — 38,100

8. Tyler Kenney — 37,100

9. Vanessa Selbst — 35,400

10. Kevin MacPhee — 30,200

The tournament is scheduled for two more days of action, and with about 70-75 players expected to make the money, the money bubble should burst very early on Day 2 of the event, so expect a fast and furious pace on Monday.

Tags: Aaron Jones, Attendance Record, Attendance Records, Baudry, Bleak World, Cannes France, Dan Shak, Dorfman, Falling By The Wayside, Farzad, James Mitchell, Latest Victim, Macphee, Matthew Waxman, Romanello, Savinelli, Scotty Nguyen, Toby Lewis, Vanessa Selbst, World Series of Poker

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