Question of the day: Why is 512 significant?

Geographical

512: Area code for Austin, TX.

Mathematical

512 is equal to the cube of 8.

Historical

512: The year Roman Emperor Anastasius I ended his period of ecclestical policy and started strongly favoring his own beliefs, that Christ was of one nature and not two. While it might have seemed a decisive move on his part, frankly, Anastasius was a bit of an indecisive character and it led to him having serious problems picking an heir to his throne. In one failed--and funny--attempt to let fate decide for him, he put notes under three couches and invited three nephews in to sit down. Under the Emperor's logic, the nephew who sat on the special couch would be the heir to the throne. Unfortunately for the indecisive Emperor, two of the nephews were sort of...into each other...and sat on the same couch, leaving the "heir the thone" couch empty.

Silly Anastasius.

Really historical

512: The number of total players in the 2000 World Series of Poker.

The stuff of history

512: The number of qualifers for the WSOP that PokerStars passed in qualifiers today.

That's right. As of today, PokerStars awarded its 512th WSOP prize package for the 2005 WSOP. Now the number has surpassed the total number of entrants from 2000. And get this. There are still two months left until the big event.

Now, you could probably do the math yourself, but I'll save you the effort (actually, one of my associates has saved us all the effort). At this rate--and barring an unexpected early cap-out on the event--PokerStars will put well more than 1000 players into the WSOP.

Consider that for just a second. That's bigger than the entire 2003 field when PokerStars' Chris Moneymaker shocked the world and took down the main event bracelet. It's almost half the field from 2004 when PokerStars' Greg Raymer gave PokerStars a repeat championship.

Now...we're at 512 headed for more than a thousand. The WSOP field will likely settle around 6600 people this year. That is, in short, a little more than wacky.

Not only is PokerStars offering cash satellites all the time, it is giving away more than $2 million in free WSOP seats and hotel rooms.

What's to come? Well, I can't say. That is, I can't say right now.

But keep your eye on this space (look away every few minutes to let your eyes rest), because I promise, there are some more neat and new things to come.