PokerStars Blog hits the World Series of Poker

Dear readers,

I won't say it slipped my mind, because it didn't. The subject was on the tip of my tongue (now planted firmly in my cheek) so many times, but I never felt like the time was the right to bring it up. There were other things going on. The World Cup of Poker was basking in the limelight. Plus, I never caught the look in your eye--the one that says you're ready to listen. Now, at this late hour, perhaps it's a little late to tell you that I have moved into a hotel and will be spending the forseeable future with a few thousand other people who are a lot like me.

Don't forget to feed the dog,
Otis

Okay, okay. It's early and I'm feeling a little loopy. It's 9:30am in Las Vegas and there is a man growling in the hotel room next to mine. I have little doubt he is one of the 2200 people registered in Event #2 of the World Series of Poker. I have little doubt he is going through some primal morning ritual that will prepare him for the long day ahead.

In all seriousness, new rules and regulations about press coverage of the World Series of Poker made me unsure whether the PokerStars Blog would be able to provide coverage of the WSOP this year. However, after a walkthrough of the WSOP tournament area last night, it appears all is well.

And well it should be. All night last night, I heard players grousing because they showed up late and were too late to register for the Event #2 ($1500 No-Limit Hold'em). If the numbers I've heard are correct, Harrah's capped the buy-ins at 2,200 people (including alternates).

I played in this very event last year. I remember the crowd's excitement as the first open event of the year kicked off. By the dinner break, the more than 2,200 players had dwindled to less than five hundred. To be sure, the carnage was quick and relatively painless.

As you may be aware, PokerStars has allowed it players to buy into selected WSOP events with their W$. These players, along with the other members of Team PokerStars, will be my focus for the forseeable future. That is, if a PokerStars player is playing in an event, it will be my mission to make sure you know how they are doing.

Today, the following PokerStars players will be fighting it out against a couple thousand other hopefuls:

ACESEDAI
ahh_snap
Allways Look
Astrolux85
Axinar
Beatiful Man
bebopalula
BeL0WaB0Ve
Blessed
BodogAri
Brandon78
Brett Favre
BTSMOOTH
Buckohfive
Bxf6
croth8
-db-
dirkdigler
DirtyTowel
eddy81
ElkY
Enecoman
Floyd1479
FossilMan
gaamblor
gank
gromalomus
gyndok
Hovanky
isuck123
jethro
jimbo322
JoeHachem
Johnster
KarlSpakler
KFKYF
LucaPagano
LuckyLady519
matt20
mattg1983
meggo7
micon
mm-nh
Money800
muck3
NoMercy
nycpokerguy9
oldcoyote1
OzGary
paulstl
Pet Monster
PickyTooth
pokerfriend
pokertrip
pologuy64
Quagmire79
Rich_Fish
Richfngr
Rizen
RomeRose
SamENole
Sandrine
scgolfer
scottjf8
shaniac
Sickboy6
sirio11
SiVTEC
skeemer1
solid808
Soonline
soundgarden4
stevejpa
stevesbets
strassa2
t soprano
TigerScream
TorontoToro
twin-caracas
Unassigned
USDLAW
Vandiesel
Vanessa4l
vogman42
WhenPigsFly
xmrstyle

The action kicks off at noon Vegas time. I'll be back with pictures and hopefully a story or two shortly after we get started.

Oh, and, seriously, don't forget to feed the dog.