Day 1D has turned out to be the largest single day field for a World Series Main event. Lindy will get you the final numbers later but it looks like the field is in the neighborhood of 2200, which will surpass the old record from Day 1D of 2006. This means that the '08 Main Event will be larger than '07 and second only to '06.
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With every table in all five locations around the Rio in play today, some of the tables were playing ten-seated. As registration closed after the first two levels the first order of floor business was to break those tables down to nine players before any other tables were broken and players were moved. All-in-all the process went smoothly.
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Today was clearly the Day One of Choice for the professionals, even with the huge number of tables in play, it was easy to stroll through any of the venue sites and spot big names among the online wannabes and the next Jerry Raymer, Chris Yang or Greg Moneymaker.
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Not quite sure why there is an off day tomorrow. Last year the Day 1A & 1B players were back to play Day 2A and then the Day 1C & 1D players were on for Day 2B. Then we had the day off on the 7th day. This year with tomorrow off, it will be Day 2A on Tuesday and Day 2B on Wednesday and Day 3 on Thursday. This means the Day 2B players will have to go back-to-back, while the Day 2A players get another day off. Wonder why?
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Until today I have been impressed by the stamina of the media corps this year. While this has been WSOP-lite for me in 2008, many others were in the trenches every day and the survival rate has been high. Today, I noticed the tell tale signs that a few of my colleagues have been in one place far too long. It's not Vegas, it's one big poker room with the same story over and over. Hard to find the "story of the day" for six straight weeks.
The field for Day 1B is clearly smaller than for Day 1A, there are sixteen empty tables in the main tournament area. Cash games continue in that section of the room. Final number for today will not be avaiable until at least the end of round three (the dinner break).
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All five of the multi-table satellites yesterday had over 225 players. The largest was the $330 with 390 starters. Numbers were a bit off today with the July 4th holiday. A full slate of satellites are running tomorrow and a final 8 AM Mega on Sunday.
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Two of my favorite players were in the field today. Bill Edler and Kristy Gazes. Two very good players and just plain great people. Kristy has three cashes so far this Series; Bill has been blanked this year but we all remember his bracelet last summer and his great run in the Main Event (23rd). I like to point out players like these two, if only to balance the other side of poker offered by the Doctor of Darkness Pauly.
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The online qualifiers were even more prominent today with the new t-shirts, hats and stick-on logos seemingly at every other seat.
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I took in the Life Style Expo during the first level, I was hoping for one real hi-lite. Just when it looked like I was going to have to settle for a Doyle book signing; I discovered the Cyndy Violette clothing emporium with Cyndy herself there to smile happiness into anyone's day.
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I also stopped by the Cardoza Publishing booth. I predict the Cardoza display will be one of the hottest attractions at next year's Life Style Expo.
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