To the play the Main Event or Not

If it's a bucket list item and the money doesn't matter to you, sure.

If you're looking at is as an investment or a lottery ticket to get lucky, I'd just pass and play something smaller like Milly Maker or Monster Stack. Those tournaments are a way to approximate the Main Event experience without spending the steep $10k entry. They definitely don't carry the prestige, stakes, or buzz of the Main, but they'll provide a rough parallel.

A paradox of the Main is that it's very rec-friendly in the sense that it's considered the softest $10k in the world because of all the shot-takers and hobbyists, but...the structure is so deep and the tournament is so long that players with big leaks have very little chance of making the end game. Even if a rec player makes the money, they are likely to get punked by the regs in the later stages where the money actually starts to matter. The last four winners since COVID are all some degree of reg-crusher (Aldemir, Jorstad, Weinman, Tamayo). While we have seen some amateurs come very close in that same time frame (George Holmes, Jordan Griff), the deep and slow structure of the tournament is set up to punish leakboxes in the later stages. There are just too many opportunities to make big errors for a player like Yang or Varkonyi to win in 2025. Since most of the EV is buried in the final 100 slots, I think most casual players who enter the Main are effectively min cash-or-bust. That's not a great proposition if the $10k matters to you. If the money doesn't matter and the experience is paramount, by all means fire away.

Full disclaimer is that I've never played the Main, though I've played a lot of other stuff at the WSOP and have watched every Main since 2003.

Personally I have played the Main twice won my way in 2006 and paid 2023. Knocked out last level day 2 both times. I am a good Rec player but age is taking a toil on my aggression LOL. I go to the WSOP yearly now and 6 of the last 10 years. If you have never played the WSOP DON'T start with the Main Event. At a minimum play in several lower buy in events to get your feet wet and over some of the deer in the headlight factor that almost all first timers have. If the money has any meaning to you at all (don't have +$1MM in investments ) then with what you are saying about your lack of passion DONT play. Not the first year. Risk say $5K total in several other smaller events (as Dogface has suggested) see how you do and how it feels for you. If you find it exciting and gets your heart pumping then NEXT year consider the investment. Could you luck box into a small Main Cash .......... of course but trust me even with the weak field you are a BIG EV- and the problem is if you punt $10K you will start thinking about what you COULD have done with the Money. Get your feet wet for a year and reevaluate would be the best logical advise someone can provide. BUT as Dog said though - If its a Bucket List thing Go for it. The Main has a wonderful structure but trust me it is also a hell of a grind and its not unusual for people to literally be "relieved" when they bust as strange as that may sound.

I considered playing the Main Event two years ago after I cashed well in the Monster Stack. My 'roll was within $700 so it wouldn't have been a far reach. I decided not to. I thought I was OK with that decision but now I am years older and my cognitive ability is slipping. I don't think I would even consider playing it now, at age 75. I'd like to play the Monster again. If I somehow make it to day 3 again I might consider playing the Main. Father Time is unbeaten. I have to really see how I play locally before I commit to playing that Monster again. It's hard to get poker out of your system after you've made a habit of returning to the WSOP every year.

Thanks for the replies.

I have played in 2 WSOP events the Monster Stack busted an hour from bagging the first day a few years ago and last year the mini main busting only a few hours into the tournament. So I have scratched the itch of playing smaller WSOP tournaments.

And IÂ’ve been to the WSOP and Vegas during the Series at least 10 times in the 20 years I have been playing. So itÂ’s not like the experience is above my skiÂ’s per se. I have experienced everything that I could have ever imagined from my WSOP trips from my first WSOP when Hachem won to playing PLO with Chicago Joey at the Wynn and to last years Series and everything in between.

Yes it is a bit of a bucket list item, at the same time it is not. More of a pilgrimage so to speak but thatÂ’s where my lack of passion for the game comes in making me question whether I should play or not. Even though I could still eat I hate to light 10k plus travel expenses on fire. When as stated above I could just put it to work in an investment that would most likely reap better returns. I once played cash games with the Fossil Man and i asked him if I should fire the Main he said point blank No but to save my money. I felt like that was a sincere response and it has always stuck with me.

It sounds foolish but it is just not a clear cut answer for myself at this moment.

Thanks for the feedback

Play a couple three satellites and see what happens.

This might be a good approach OP.

You've ultimately got to ask yourself if it is worth $10 k to you for the experience? Personally I think you would have a great experience without necessarily having to play the main. You could go, enter some of the smaller buyins, and take a shot or two at satellites. Give yourself a chance in case the stars align and at least you'll be there when the main is happening.

You'll likely have a great time just being there to experience the energy and excitement, see all the stars and participate even if it's at a smaller buy in level.

That way the quality of your experience isn't hanging so much on the one event either. If you win a satellite then playing in the main could just be the icing on the cake.

Yeah, those satellites just before the Main used to get crazy. Everyone agrees to a flip, and one hand gets dealt. The winner gets 10 grand(ish). Of course, that was when they had STT's, which I hope gg brings back.

I have played WSOP almost every year since 2006 , mainly tournaments under $1500.

I have played main event twice in last 18 years.

Main Events experience is the best I have for any tournaments.

The first time I played ME was 2006 and that was first ever Poker tournament I played in a Casino !! After playing for 2+ days I was out of tournament about 30 places away from cashing!!

And I will attribute my loosing call to my inexperience!!

If I were you , I will play some small buy-in tournaments first before Main Event. If you are going for Main Event and depending how much time you have in Las Vegas before the Main Event, here are some suggestions:

EVENT #48: $1,000 SENIORS
EVENT #53: $1,500 MILLIONAIRE MAKER
EVENT #59: $1,000 BATTLE OF THE AGES OVER 50
EVENT #64: $1,000 SUPER SENIORS
EVENT #67: $300. GLADIATORS
EVENT #75: $1,000 MINI MAIN

After all this talk about satellites I am thinking of revising my plans. Last time I played the Million dollar bounty and came back two weeks later to play the Monster Stack. Maybe this time I play the Monster Stack and then come back in July to take a shot at a couple of satellites for the Main. I think just sitting down for the Main would be quite a thrill but unless my 'roll is with a K or two I think my best option is a satellite or two.

I played two of the $1100s last year. Didn't win a seat. Didn't even get close.

I still think it's a good route to try. I'll probably do it again sometime (not this year).

My general take is that the structure is very fast and the fields are tougher than you'd think. Lots of regs. You'll need to run very pure because it's almost a turbo.

Hellmuth says that, at age 60, he is too old and won't play the Main event this year. Too much of an endurance test and a grind rather than a test of skill. I am a lot older than him and I am thinking of playing the Main? Who am I kidding? No really. Time to get real?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAQl9Y4q...

Hellmuth is an attention whore, who cares. He loved the structure when he was 45.

OP, it sounds like if you got coolered in the first 5 hours you'd be pretty unhappy (most would). I guess my larger point Is that you don't sound all that excited about playing and while that may change id not play. 10 grand is a ****load of cash to drop on a tournament, especially one you seem to have very little chance of cashing in based off the evidence you've provided.

Personally, I'm more in your shoes except the money would mean a great deal to me. I really would love to play the main and realize it's not worth the financial gamble despite having the cash. I agree with others that if you have the time, go and play a couple sattys and a smaller event leading up to it. If u get in, great, if you make a deep run in that event you'll find out it's either enough for you or you'll be so amped up you'll buy in.

It's the WSOP man! If being there and playing doesn't hype you up then don't go blowing 10k unless it absolutely is irrelevant to you. But as others have said after 2 full days you'll be exhausted. Good luck dude.

Sorry for long post

Like I previously stated that in 2006 after playing almost 3 days I was knocked out on 3rd day
And in 2021 after playing 2 full days and 1am on 3rd day we made in to cash. That is after playing almost 35/36 hours !
So if you have that kind of endurance go for it directly to ME or like I said get some feeling and WSOP experience with smaller events.

I think my chances would be better in a 10 seat sng. If you get lucky for 3 or 4 hands, you have a real chance of running deep. I wish the STT's would come back.

Doyle played it in his 70's.

They don't exist? Wtf that's stupid.

Yep, WSOP got rid of them last year.

I'm 52 and thinking about playing the $1000 Seniors event.
I'm in good physical shape, I've been biking, running, swimming my whole life. But my energy levels are lower than they used to be.

Potentially playing multiple 11 hour days sounds really tough. My cash game sessions now average 4 hrs. I did a couple days in a row of 10 hr sessions (both losing) a couple months ago and it sucked the joy out of me. I'm sure I'd have an adrenaline rush playing at the WSOP, and if I run/play well enough to last into some long days I will have an additional boost from that.
But still, those long hours sound grueling.

When I played Main Event 2nd time in 2021, I was 72 years old . Yes it was tough on me as I cashed it on 3rd day late night ( 1 AM) !!

If I have a chance I will do it this year too.

I am definitely playing Mystery Million and some other tournaments this year at the age of 76.

If I can do it anyone can do it .

You are 52 year old !

I learned to play poker when I was 56 years old .

You will be fine !!

That's amazing you learned at 56. I say that because the game was a normal part of my life since 12 or 13. 39 now.

The thing I realized about playing the marathon that is these events is that every level, every day, every pay ladder the adrenaline should get higher and higher. So even on your 3rd/4th day you're cashing, that's exciting. After that you're counting how many are left etc. But that first day or 2 is brutal, especially being short stacked which I was. Each decision after first dinner break was so important that is was exhausting.

It doesn't work that way. I'm a lot older than you and I'm in TURRIBUL shape. But when you sit down, you expect a long day. You mentally pace yourself. The hardest part for me is to stay engaged and not get bored. Don't mindlessly shove or call shoves, without giving it some thought first.

It's not that grueling. They let you sit down the whole time.

If the schedule fits, try to play the Wednesday version of the Daily Deepstack. It's for seniors so it's a much smaller field. They hit the money in the late afternoon or early evening.

I came to USA at late age. Never heard about poker when growing up 😀

Everyone is different of course, but given that you're in good shape and have exercised your entire life, I would assume it would be manageable for you. Just be sure to get a good night sleep and eat properly ahead of time, and on breaks take a walk around to relax your mind without doing too much else. And every 20-30 minutes when you're playing, stand up and stretch. And if/when you make day 2, again, you want to get as much sleep as possible before the next day. You could also play day 1A on the 16th, and if you make day 2 then you wouldn't play again until the 18th, giving you a full day to do something less taxing and relax.

I'm 62, and like you I'm in good shape, have exercised my whole life, but my energy level is also lower than it used to be. But I've had very little issues playing the Seniors tournaments the last 4 years. The structure is great, and I've found it to be a very fun tournament. There tends to be some pretty good comradery in the Seniors tournament, so that makes it more enjoyable to play, and energizing.

Whatever you decide, good luck, and enjoy!

OP, After hearing your story, I don't think you should play it directly.

You should play the Main Event when you are dying to play it. My advice would be to play a few smaller events and take some shots at satellites. If you run well in the smaller events or satellite your way in, then play it. You should play the Main Event, when you have been winning in your regular game and feel like "This year is gonna be my year."