Welcome To the 2012 WSOP Main Event

donpeters

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!