PokerStars Breaks Own Tourney Record

Internet poker giant PokerStars broke its own world record for biggest online tournament Sunday.

PokerStars already held the previous record of 65,000 entrants for a tournament held last July, but was set to smash that mark with the current tourney, with 71,000 players already signed up more than 24 hours before the beginning of proceedings, and 149,196 ending up having paid the $1 entrance fee.

Participants were no doubt enticed by the $300,000 guaranteed prize pool and the minimum buy in of just one solitary dollar.

The tournament will send a message to major rival Full Tilt Poker that PokerStars means business as the calendar sets to turn over to 2010.

Full Tilt - the world's second-largest poker room, recently announced some major changes, including a new VIP program and changes aimed at eradicating short stackers.