The skeptics have been silenced at Atlantis Paradise Island. On Sunday, the 2025 WSOP Paradise Super Main Event officially surpassed its massive $60,000,000 guarantee, turning a distinct possibility into a record-breaking reality as the 374th entry sat down for Day 1D.
With the guarantee secured, the poker world’s attention has shifted to a new, historic milestone: Can this tournament generate the largest non-WSOP Main Event prize pool in history?
The Chase for a New Record
The turnout has been relentless. Day 1D concluded with an additional 508 entries, pushing the tournament totals to 2,534 entries and a staggering $63,350,000 prize pool.
The target is clear. The 2025 Super Main Event needs just 93 more entries to eclipse the $65,660,000 benchmark set by the 2019 Triton Million in London. Surpassing this figure would secure its status as the richest non-Main Event tournament in history. Opportunities to join the field remain, with registration open for three levels once Day 2B begins on Monday at noon.
Largest Non-WSOP Main Event Prize Pools
The current prize pool already ranks 13th all-time among all poker tournaments, trailing only the Triton Million and various WSOP Main Events in Las Vegas.
| Rank | Event | Prize Pool |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2019 Triton Million | $65,660,000 |
| 2 | 2025 WSOP Paradise Super Main | $63,350,000 (Active) |
| 3 | 2024 WSOP Paradise Super Main | $48,500,000 |
| 4 | 2024 WSOP Paradise Triton Million | $44,603,000 |
| 5 | 2012 Big One for One Drop | $42,666,672 |
Frederic Normand Leads Day 1D Survivors
While early action saw massive stacks from players like Alan Keating (1,990,000) and Monika Hrabec (1,960,000), the leaderboard shifted dramatically by night’s end.
Frederic Normand surged late to bag the chip lead with 5,795,000, eclipsing the 5,400,000 mark set by Jens Arends on Day 1C. Normand leads a field of 178 Day 1D survivors, though no other players from the overnight top ten maintained their position.
Top 10 Chip Counts (Day 1D)
| Player | Chip Count |
|---|---|
| Frederic Normand | 5,795,000 |
| Alberto Speranzoni | 5,550,000 |
| Aaron Mermelstein | 5,400,000 |
| Chad Eveslage | 4,215,000 |
| Waikiat Lee | 3,890,000 |
| Dong Chen | 3,855,000 |
| Ap Garza | 3,435,000 |
| Isaiah Goldman | 3,340,000 |
| Aylar Lie | 3,040,000 |
| Alvaro Puchol | 3,000,000 |
Notables Moving On
Beyond the chip leaders, a host of poker elite successfully navigated the day. Chad Eveslage made a late run to finish fourth in chips, while other legends secured their bags for Day 2:
- Robert Mizrachi: 2,870,000
- Viktor Blom: 2,810,000
- Scott Seiver: 2,735,000
- Daniel Negreanu: 1,870,000
- Lexy Gavin-Mather: 1,500,000
- Faraz Jaka: 1,360,000
- Phil Laak: 1,160,000
- Jennifer Tilly: 950,000
Notably, Phil Hellmuth has yet to make an appearance but is expected to take one last shot during the final registration window.
Critical Monday: The Path to the Money
The stakes escalate significantly on Monday. A combined field of 316 players from Days 1C and 1D will return at noon, joined by late registrants looking to spin up a stack.
- The Goal: The field will play down to the top 15%, securing a min-cash of $50,000.
- The Dream: From there, play continues until only 7% remain, who will advance to join the 109 players from Day 2A.
With the 2025 WSOP Main Event in Las Vegas (won by Michael Mizrachi) already generating over $90 million this year, the Super Main Event is poised to cap off a historic year for big-money poker. All eyes are now on the registration desk to see if the final 93 entries needed for the record will arrive.
