2008 World Series of Poker

39th Annual World Series of Poker Main Event
Day: 1d
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Event Info
2008 World Series of Poker
Event Info
Buy-in
$10,000
Entries
6,844
Players Left
9
Next Payout
Place 9
$900,670
Level Info
Level
33
Blinds
120,000 / 240,000
Ante
30,000
Players Left 9 / 6,844
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Massive Day 1d Field Expected

With roughly two hours to go before the noon kickoff for Day 1d play, roughly 2,200 players have registered. This will make the Day 1d opening session by far the largest of the four opening sessions, easily topping yesterday's 1,928-player turnout. It'll be a star-studded field on Sunday as well, as many of poker's biggest names have chosen to wait until the last opening day to play.

The big turnout will force the use of virtually all the overflow areas at the Rio, making for wall-to-wall, high-stakes poker. We'll have the latest reports from the Main Event's final opening day, beginning at noon, right here on PokerNews.

Level: 1

Blinds: 50/100

Ante: 0

Day 1d Begins

Congressman Robert Wexler spoke for a couple of minutes about the congressional efforts to revoke the ban on online poker in the United States, and then he delivered the words the whole poker world was waiting for.

"Players... shuffle up and deal!" -- and with that, Day 1d of the 2008 Main Event is underway!

Political Photo Op

How do you know when poker has hit the big time? When politicians are focusing on it as a major "issue." Representative Robert Wexler (D - Florida) is in the Amazon Room this morning, along with Poker Players Alliance representative Sen. Alfonse D'Amato, formerly a Senator from New York. After Jack Effel announced that this is (currently) the second-largest Main Event field ever with the slowest structure ever in the history of the Main Event - extra levels inserted at Level 3, Level 4 and Level 6 - and his other usual announcements, he turned the mic over to Rep. Wexler.

"We're here as friends of poker," said Wexler, as D'Amato stood beside him. "Two years ago, under a Republican-controlled Congress, the United States Congress took your right to play poker on the internet away. With your help, we're going to change that wrong-headed law."

These remarks drew scattered applause from around the room, before Wexler added, "That's what we need to do while we're fixing the economy and all the other important things." That drew laughter.

An Eerie Silence

Yesterday we reported about the lack of noise and emotion coming from players within the Amazon room and today seems to be the same. There is very little energy here, with most players socializing very little.

Players seem focused and down to business. Maybe it's due to the early hour, but one thing's for sure - it is quiet in here!

And Then There Were...Ten?

We knew today would have the biggest field of all the starting days, but it looks like it might be bigger than anyone imagined--because we've started out playing ten-handed. That's caused some confusion at some tables as dealers had to be sure to put to button in the correct position and make sure that everyone was in the right seat. So the players are in especially close quarters at the start of play today.

Don't Hold Your Breath

There's a woman sitting in the Blue section of the Amazon Room wearing a t-shirt that reads "Norm's Next Wife." Norman Chad recently walked by her table, drawing squeals of delight from the player. She bounded out of her chair, ran over to Chad and gave him a big hug while a friend took a photo. She then asked Chad to marry her.

"I'll get back to you," said a bemused Chad.

'Dolly' Comes Out Guns Blazin'

An under-the-gun player raised to 300, and Doyle Brunson made the call. On a flop of {K-Spades} {3-Hearts} {3-Spades}, Brunson checked to his opponent, who bet out 400. Brunson made the call. The turn of the {K-Diamonds} was checked around. When the river card of the {A-Spades} hit, Brunson fired out 1,200 and his opponent folded.

After the hand, Brunson departed out the room for a short break.

Tags: Doyle Brunspn

Think I'll Wait for the Fourth Day One

So thought a lot of folks.

Shane "Shaniac" Schleger and Joe Pelton are here and at the same table. And Layne Flack and Antonio Esfandiari are also tablemates.

Also among those here in the Brasilia Room: Scott Clements, Dan Shak, Tom Schneider, Ryan Daut, and Eugene Todd, bro.
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