One of the most keenly anticipated big money events at this year’s World Series of Poker in Las Vegas – the $40 000 buy-in 40th Anniversary No Limit Hold’em special competition – was officially started by the current WSOP Main Event champ, Peter Eastgate this week, who made the “Shuffle and Deal” call accompanied by Tournament Director Jack Effel and Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack.
The welcome and start ceremony may have lacked some of the glitz and glam of previous commencements, but it was nevertheless enthusiastically received by some 201 top players prepared to pay the steep price to compete against the best of the best…and stand a chance of winning the main prize of almost $2 million.
The entry field generated a prize pool of just over $7.7 million, which will set the money bubble at the 27th place, and provide the eventual winner with $1.89 million.
The entry field includes an interesting mix of young and somewhat older Internet and live poker aces from all over the planet, such as Christian Harder, Scott Montgomery, Dwan and Dario Minieri, all unfortunately early eliminations.
Still battling through the field as we went to press were Erick Lindgren, Ted Forrest, Phil Laak, Phil Ivey, Vivek Rajkumar, Justin Bonomo, Michael DeMichele, David Chui, Andy Black, Tony G, Doyle Brunson, David Pham, Mig.com Mackey, Steve Billirakis, WPT Season VI Player of the Year Jonathan Little, Mike Watson, Barry Schwartz, Jennifer Harman, Daniel Negreanu, Shaun Deeb and Steve Gross.