Las Vegas Weekly

July 2, 2010 · 11:41 AM

Photos: World Series of Poker Main Event begins with record numbers

By Robin Leach

Annie Duke at Extra Lounge in Planet Hollywood on July 1, 2010.

Photo: Tom Donoghue/www.donoghuephotography.com

As the richest sport on Earth with the biggest payday of them all, the World Series of Poker No-Limit Hold ’Em championship is simply known as the Main Event. Last year, Joe Cada walked away with a prize of $8,546,435, with Darvin Moon the runner-up. A year earlier, Peter Eastgate won $9,152,4166, but it is Jamie Gold who holds the record of $12 million in 2006.

Entries this year are already up 22 percent for the Main Event getting underway Monday at The Rio. Harrah’s executives told me this morning that they have smashed the record of 60,887 entrants, and the pace indicates that it could reach a staggering 70,000 by noon Monday.

With so many players ponying up the $10,000 buy-in, it will take four days just to start the Main Event: Monday (Day 1A), Tuesday (Day 1B), Wednesday (Day 1C) and Thursday (Day 1D). It will be late Thursday when the official number of entrants and the final purse can be calculated.

Vegas DeLuxe has learned that TV’s beloved Ray Romano will start play on Day 1A along with Las Vegas basketball hero Shawn Marion. There should be dozens of VIP names at the start, including actresses Jennifer Tilly and Shannon Elizabeth and Dallas Cowboys legends Troy Aikman and Emmitt Smith. Also joining the action with the poker pros will be several MMA fighters, plus cricket legend Shane Warne and boxer Jeff Fenech. And 2008 Playboy Playmate of the Year Jayde Nicole, who has been tweeting about her dates with Las Vegas nightclub mogul Jesse Waits, goes all in for the first time at the priciest poker challenge of them all.

In all, there will be 13 days of play starting Monday. By July 16, it will be down to 27 players, and by July 17, the Final Nine players. The nine return to Caesars Palace on Nov. 6 to play the Final Table, with this year’s ultimate winner crowned Nov. 9.

Please remember that Annie Duke and Don Cheadle host their Ante Up for Africa charity tournament tomorrow with Hollywood celebrities on hand to play for the fundraiser. Last night, Annie was at Extra Lounge in Planet Hollywood and met with Harrah’s VIP guests. After answering every possible question under the sun about poker, the Celebrity Apprentice star was presented with $5,000 to Ante Up for Africa by Sean McBurney and Bill Zimmer, Harrah’s marketing executives. Thanks to contributing photographer Tom Donoghue for these great photos.

WSOP officials will spend Sunday setting up for the players’ Monday invasion. It’s all come a very long way from the first WSOP in 1970 when it was an invitational with downtown hotel mogul Benny Binion. He invited six of the best-known poker players to his then Horseshoe Casino. Now 40 years later, more than 60,000 will sit down for their shot at fame and fortune.

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 at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.

Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.

Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.

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