World Series of Pokers Main Event Kicks Off

The over 8,000 players that signed up for the world series of poker Main Event sat down at their tables Friday, ready to battle it out for the chance to go down in poker history, not to mention the top prize of $11.7 million.

The last 12 players in the game will have a guaranteed prize of at least $1 million. The final table is slated to begin play on Aug. 10.

"Everybody's got dreams and aspirations, but you've got to get through a lot of people here," said Greg Severson, a 45-year-old building contractor from Upland, Calif. He qualified for his $10,000 seat online.

"One step at a time," he said. "First break, dinner break, first day. One day at a time."

Celebrities such as Tobey Maguire, Mekhi Phifer, James Garner, and boxer Antonio Tarver were some of the participants in the main event. Poker pros Gus Hansen, Eli Elezra, Michael Mizrachi, Barry Greenstein and Juan Carlos Mortensen also took to the tables Friday.

The event that's a hotpot of characters is taking place at the Rio All-Suites Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

Earlier events have witnessed Jeff Madsen, a student from Calif., winning his first bracelet at the tender age of 21. On the other hand, Phil Hellmuth, a poker pro, has tied a record as he won his 10th WSOP bracelet, bringing him in league with Doyle Brunson and Johnny Chan with the most number of wins in the series.

10/06/2006, Friday
Matthew Dorst

World Series of Pokers Main Event Kicks Off

Related Stories