Today is the day everyone in poker waits for; it's the start of the World Series of Poker Main Event. Whether a player, a fan or a working member within the industry, the WSOP Main Event is your Super Bowl. It is the greatest event in the world and it only comes once a year.
For the next several days, dreams will be made and shattered as we move towards crowning another WSOP champion. Last year, Pius Heinz fulfilled the ultimate poker dream to become the 42nd WSOP Main Event champion. He defeated a field of 6,865 runners to earn the $8,715,368 top prize and will forever be remembered in the poker history books.
Another 6,000-7,000 entrants are expected in attendance to create the most sought after prize pool in all of the land. Today's Day 1a is the first of three starting flights, which is one less than in recent previous years. Still, the expectations are set extremely high for the most prestigious tournament title in the world.
Play today is scheduled for five 120-minute levels. Each player will begin with 30,000 in starting chips and a 20-minute break will occur after every level. After the third level of the day, the players will be sent on a 90-minute dinner break. If everything runs according to schedule, play should end at approximately 12:30 AM tonight.
The festivities are upon us and the Main Event is scheduled to get underway shortly. Stay tuned to PokerNews for all of the live coverage straight to you from the tournament floor. You won't want to miss it!
2011 WSOP Main Event champion Pius Heinz
, and both players checked. The turn came the 
, and again, they both checked. The river brought the case six, the 
, bringing quads on board.
for "the nuts".
. Rahme checked to Randall, who fired out 3,200. Rahme thought for about 15 seconds before tossing out three orange T,5000 chips, a raise to 15,000 total. It was back to Randall, and he grabbed his stack of oranges and dropped it into the middle, moving Rahme all in. He quickly made the call, and asked Randall if he had the eight. Randall shook his head, because he had something better.
, and the river came the 
. Rahme shook his head as he left the table, while Randall added to his already impressive stack. He is now easily the biggest stack in the room, sitting on a whopping 135,000.
, prompting Hellmuth to stand up and begin his walk out the door, mumbling how Tureniec wins every hand. A meaningless 
landed on the river and Hellmuth was halfway to the closest door dropping a few choice profanities at nothing in particular.
on the turn, and a 
on the river sealed the deal and Heinz doubled up to around 27,500.
and Arnett shoved all in over the 4,000-chip raise from the player to her right. While he was tanking she told us the following.
, and the river the 
