WSOP 2012 Main Event Kicks Off – Day 1a

The World Series of Poker 2012 got into gear on Saturday with 1066 confirmed entries for Day 1a.  Typically this is the slowest of the three signup days.

Among the notable names we found professional hockey player Roberto Luongo, Mike Sexton, Eric Baldwin, Barry Shulman along with his wife Allyn Jaffrey Shulman, Ivan Demidov, Allen Cunningham, Tatjana Pasalic, Mike Matusow, Erica Schoenberg, Lock Poker Pro Matt Stout, Tommy Vedes, last year’s Main Event winner Pius Heinz, David Williams, Joe Hachem (who was already eliminated at press time) and Kathy Liebert.

More than $8 million is expected to be given away to the winner.  That’s nowhere near the $18 million plus rewarded to Antonio Esfandiari for his victory at this past week’s Big One For One Drop event, but neither do Main Event entrants have to pony up a $1 million buy-in.  While some have entered satellites to participate, most players posted $10,000 to enter. 

This event will carry on for 10 days.

- Ace King, Gambling911.com