PokerStars qualifiers have had incredible success at the WSOP*, making many final table appearances and cashing for millions of dollars. The 2003 and 2004 Champions both qualified via PokerStars satellites. Chris Moneymaker earned $2,500,000 after winning a $39 satellite, while Greg Raymer won a massive $5,000,000 after winning his seat in a $150+$10 shootout tournament.

Here is a round-up of how PokerStars qualifiers have performed at the Main Event each year.

2007

Over 6,000 players entered in 2007. There were 615 PokerStars qualifiers, equating to 9.67% of the entire field. There were cash finishes for 93 players, including 13 in the top fifty. David Tran and Bob Slezak came 14th and 15th respectively, both picking up $429,114. Scott Freeman, John Armburst, Jeff Bryan, Roy Winston and Jason Welch each took away over $300,000 for finishing in the top 30. The final table also featured Team PokerStars Pro members Hevad Khan, Raymond Rahme and eventual runner-up Tuan Lam.

2006

In the year that the series attracted its largest ever field, 8,773 players took part in the Main Event. From those, over 1,600 won their seat on PokerStars, 18% of all entrants. There were money finishes for 145 qualifiers in total, three of which made it to the final table. Eliminated in 9th place, Dan Nassif earned $1,566,858 after winning his seat in a $160 satellite. Erik Friberg finished in 8th, earning $1,979,189. Our biggest winner was Doug Kim, a player who turned a $650 satellite into $2,391,520 for finishing in 7th place. Elsewhere, Eric Lynch and Mark Garner each picked up $494,797 for their top 25 finishes. There were also cash finishes for Cuong Do, Rob Berryman, Brian Hansen and Kyle Bowker.

2005

In what proved to be Team PokerStars Pro member Joe Hachem’s year, 5,619 players competed for a massive prize pool. There were 1,116 PokerStars qualifiers in total, making up 20% of the field. There were 106 cashes. Joining Hachem at the final table were Daniel Bergsdorf and Brad Kondracki, who finished in 7th and 8th place for $1,150,000 and $1,300,000 respectively. Bernard Lee earned $400,000 for finishing 13th after qualifying via a Frequent Player Point satellite. Larry Prugh, Raymi Sanchez, Steve Marx, and Radu Butan also finished in the big money spots.  

2004

The online poker revolution was well underway by 2004. The number of Main Event entrants had tripled since the previous year. Out of the 2,576 people who played, more than 12% had won their seat by qualifying on PokerStars, 316 players in total. From the 28 who cashed, four made it to the final nine. Sharing the table with eventual winner Greg Raymer were Matt Dean and Michael McClain, who finished in 7th and 9th place, earning cashes of $675,000 and $470,400. There were also top twenty-five finishes for Davin Andersson, Gary Jones and Dewey Archer.

2003

The 2003 Main Event saw history made with victory for Chris Moneymaker, after qualifying on PokerStars for $39. Of the 839 players who entered, 37 had won their seat via PokerStars satellites and freerolls. This marked the first time that this many players had qualified outside of Binion’s own live satellite events. As well as Moneymaker’s life-changing first prize of $2,500,000, there was also a 16th place finish for fellow qualifier Olof Thorson, who took home $55,000.

2002

In 2002, the Main Event attracted 631 of the world’s top pro players. PokerStars sent two qualifiers to the event, Anders Berg and Mark Leah. Although they didn’t cash, it was an experience they would never forget.

To read how members of Team PokerStars Pro have made an impact at the World Series, see our pro player history page.

* WORLD SERIES OF POKER and WSOP are trademarks of Harrah's License Company, LLC ("Harrah's"). Harrah's does not sponsor or endorse, and is not associated or affiliated with PokerStars.com or its products, services, promotions or tournaments.