The top prize at the World Series of Poker main event is $8.94 million as the no-limit Texas Hold 'em tournament reached 7,319 entrants, its second-best showing ever.
A field of 2,391 players entered poker's richest event on Thursday, the last of four starting days to buy in for $10,000.
The total prize pool for the tournament is $68.8 million.
The main event is up 12.7 percent with 825 more players than last year, when Joe Cada won $8.55 million for first place.
Last year's prize pool was $61 million.