Pros and Amatueurs Battle it out at WSOP Vegas Events

LAS VEGAS, NV — As reported by the Canadian Press: "Top poker professionals and amateurs with deep pockets put up US$40,000 apiece Thursday to square off in the first major tournament
The WSOP Main Event  at the World Series of Poker.

The series kicked off seven weeks of poker tournaments at the Rio hotel and casino, where thousands of players will gamble against one another for millions of dollars and one of 57 gold bracelets awarded to winners of the various games.

The series culminates with its US$10,000 no-limit Texas Hold 'em main event, a tournament that crowns the World Series of Poker champion each year. Last year, Peter Eastgate topped a field of 6,844 to win US$9.15 million and the coveted title.

The first of thousands of hands of poker took place Wednesday when a tournament for casino employees was held.

On Thursday, Eastgate called "Shuffle up and deal" to start the first open tournament before taking his seat at the US$40,000 no-limit Texas Hold 'em event..."

"There were 201 entrants, with 27 players to be paid at least US$71,858. The total prize pool for the tournament was US$7.72 million, with the winner to be paid US$1.89 million..."

"The US$40,000 buy-in event is the highest buy-in for a no-limit Texas Hold 'em event at the World Series of Poker, and was added this year for the 40th anniversary of the series.

The series also has a mixed-game H.O.R.S.E. event each year that costs US$50,000 to enter.

But the poker world points to the main event, which begins July 3 and continues until July 15 when the field of thousands is reduced to nine players..."