Day 1b Concludes

A total of 873 runners came out today for the second Day One of the 2009 World Series of Poker Main Event -- down from yesterday's 1,116, and also down from previous years' numbers. The Fourth of July holiday, speculated some, was a reason for the lower total, with many expecting much greater turnouts for Sunday and Monday.

Among those who came to play on Independence Day were former WSOP champions Greg Raymer (2004), Chris Moneymaker (2003), Carlos Mortensen (2001), Chris Ferguson (2000), Jim Bechtel (1993), Doyle Brunson (1976, 1977), and "Amarillo Slim" Preston (1972).

Of those Raymer and Preston appear to have fared the best, while Moneymaker and Brunson both ran out of chips before the afternoon was done. Others failing to make it to day's end included Vicky Coren, Jeremiah Smith, Ralph Perry, David Steicke, and David "The Dragon" Pham.

Some of the bigger stacks at the end of the day belonged to Brandon Demes, Nick Maimone, Samer Rahman, Jim Bookstaff, Max Casao, Craig Hopkins, and Jesse Rios. Joe Sebok, Raymond Davis, Ali Eslami, Dan Harmetz, Juha Helppi, are among those at the upper and lower ends of the middle group. And Barry Greenstein, Mike "The Mouth" Matusow, Billy "The Croc" Argyros, and Mike Caro were among those who will be coming back to short stacks when play resumes for this group on Tuesday.

Thanks for following our coverage today, and be sure to rejoin us on PokerNews tomorrow at noon Vegas time for Day 1c of the 2009 WSOP Main Event!