The 2015 World Series of Poker started this week and perhaps the most anticipated event of the series began starting flights early this morning. Players have been able to pre-register for the WSOP Colossus, Event #5, for weeks now. As of yesterday more than 14,000 players had registered to take part in the massive event. The buy-in of the tournament is relatively low at $565 but it is the massive guaranteed prize pool of $5,000,000 that has people lining up in droves to compete.

When the Colossus event was added to the 2015 WSOP schedule, players already felt as though the tournament would be the largest live event in the history of poker.  Currently, the official record for the largest live event goes to the 2006 Main Event which saw 8,773 competing. The Colossus tournament has easily surpassed this event in record numbers.

The first starting day kicked off today with players who remain at the end of the day returning on Sunday to meet those who remain after tomorrow’s starting flight. The WSOP can accommodate as many as 24,200 players in the event so there is plenty of room for players to compete in the starting flights of the Colossus tournament. The tournament is set to last over five days, with players receiving 5,000 in starting chips and the opportunity to re-enter as many as four times.

The total entries thus far have yet to be announced by the WSOP as well as the amount of the prize pool created. As the figures roll in, it will be interesting to see just how many players as well as just how large the prize pool will be. Colossus has proven to be just that, a massive event that is offering a huge guaranteed prize pool with a record number of competitors taking part. In just a few days, the poker industry will see just how Colossal the new poker event will be!