The tournament with the smallest field so far at the 2007 World Series of Poker has paid out the biggest first prize. It helps that the tournament had by far the highest buy-in at this year’s WSOP, at $50,000. Aside from the $10,000 No Limit Hold’em World Championship main event, the $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. tournament is the tourney that every player at the WSOP wants to win.

Since the tournament has such a huge buy-in only a select few players can actually afford it. This year only 148 players were able to squeeze an extra $50,000 out of their bankroll. And even with the small field, the winner of the tournament received $2,276,832.

After five grueling days of Hold’em, Omaha Hi/Lo, Razz, Seven Card Stud and Stud Eight or Better, the last man standing was fan favorite Freddy Deeb. This was Deeb’s second career WSOP bracelet, as he had also won the $5,000 No Limit Deuce to Seven Lowball event in 1996. The final table in the H.O.R.S.E. event lasted 14 ½ hours, and Deeb masterfully lasted that long despite not having the chip lead until heads-up play began between him and Bruno Fitoussi. The final hand of the tournament was played in Stud Eight or Better, and with Fitoussi forced all-in before the cards were even dealt, Deeb ended up winning the tournament with a lousy pair of fives.

While Deeb got rich busting out the smallest field the 2007 WSOP has seen so far, the latest $1,500 No Limit Hold’em event just broke a record for the largest non-main event field that had only been standing for three weeks. The third event on this year’s WSOP schedule had a field of 2998 players and was a record-setter. Late last week, 3151 players anted up the $1,500 for the No Limit Hold’em event and set a new record. The winner of the record-setting event was in for a $722,914 payday once the smoke had cleared.

The WSOP officials have been taking notice of the large turnouts and as a result have added an extra Day 1 to the $10,000 main event. Monday, July 9 was supposed to be a day off, but instead is now Day 1D of the main event. Last year’s main event drew 8773 players and this year’s number may actually be on par with that, despite initial predictions of a much lower number.