The 32nd Annual World Series of Poker Main Event would see another increase in attendees as 613 players created a prize pool that exceeded $6.1 million. German Henry Nowakowski entered the final table holding a slender chip lead over Spaniard Carlos Mortensen and crowd favorites Phil Hellmuth and Mike Matusow. Others at the final table include Phil Gordan, Stan Schrier, Dewey Tomko, Steve Riehle, and John Inashima as the $1.5 million first-place prize awaited the eventual 2001 World Champion.