Las Vegas Weekly

July 6, 2009 · 10:51 AM

Photo Gallery: Three stars in and two stars out in WSOP at The Rio

By Robin Leach

Actor Jason Alexander plays in the $10,000 buy-in, no-limit Texas Hold 'em tournament in the starting days of the 40th Annual World Series of Poker at The Rio.

Photo: Brian Jones/Las Vegas News Bureau

There have already been surprises in the first starting days in the 2009 World Series of Poker: Rap superstar Nelly and baseball pitching great Orel Hershiser were KO’d from the outset, and legendary poker pro Doyle Brunson, who won in 1976 and 1977 and celebrates his 40th anniversary in WSOP play this year, was ousted along with 2003 champion Chris Moneymaker and 2007 champion Jerry Yang.

Meanwhile, three Hollywood poker enthusiasts won on their first day and are still in on the action. Jennifer Tilly, Jason Alexander and Brad Garrett, along with the other safe players from Friday, Saturday, yesterday and today’s starting day, will begin normal play tomorrow at noon.

The tournament continues through July 15, when the final table of nine players will be seated. However, it won’t be until Nov. 7 when they meet to play to a winner.

Yesterday, the media circus cranked into high gear with the arrival of poker prince Phil “The Poker Brat” Hellmuth. Scantily clad Grecian goddesses drew a mob when they escorted Phil, dressed as Julius Caesar, into the third starting day at The Rio.

Regular Vegas DeLuxe reader Richard Corey recorded Phil’s arrival, as well as the surprise visit by House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank, and posted his videos on YouTube. Click HERE for Phil’s arrival, and click HERE for Barney’s introduction.

After the first four start days last year, there were 6,800 players. Peter Eastgate wound up the winner with $9.15 million; in all, $64 million was shared as prize money. The Main Event is the richest prize in world poker games. Poker pros who will be on hand to play for tomorrow’s real first day are Chris Ferguson, Johnny Chan and Thom “Amarillo Slim” Preston, also playing in his 40th anniversary game.

Poker pros celebrate Doyle Brunson's 40th anniversary in WSOP play with a party at Blush in the Wynn.

Doyle Brunson’s 40th WSOP anniversary celebration

Seventy-five-year-old gambling legend Doyle Brunson celebrated his 40th anniversary of WSOP play with a party at Blush in the Wynn. Fans swarmed the outdoor patio area to get photos and autographs as many of the poker world’s biggest stars, including Jack Binion, Jennifer Harmon, Daniel Negreanu, Johnny Chan, Antonio Esfandiari and Marco Traniello, paid their respects. Doyle’s son Todd, who is following in his father’s card-playing footsteps, also attended the celebration.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter HERE.

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