LAS VEGAS -- The World Series of Poker main event looks on pace for more entries and prize money than last year after tournament officials avoided having some players begin during the Fourth of July holiday.

A group of 1,489 players started the no-limit Texas Hold 'em tournament on Tuesday, packed 10 to a table at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino. That gave the WSOP a two-day total of 2,614; on the first day, 1,125 played.

On Wednesday, the entry list soared to 2,314 and on Thursday, tournament officials were allowing for 3,800 entries.

If that number is attained, a near-record total of 8,728 will have registered.

World Series of Poker spokesman Seth Palansky said the tournament was moved beyond the Fourth of July this year because the holiday has consistently attracted the lowest number of entries for the $10,000 buy-in tournament.

After the first three days, the chip leader was Corwin Cole, a 25-year-old Las Vegas resident who had accumulated 228,000 -- more than seven times the starting stack of 30,000.

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The Associated Press and Times Sports Editor Don McDermott contributed to this story. McDermott is playing in the WSOP Media-Celebrity event Sunday (noon).