Bodog Beat

The 2009 WSOP Main Event got underway today. (Bodog Beat Image)

Six weeks of preliminary events, a lot of hype and the now the day has finally arrived. Day 1A of the 2009 WSOP is set to get underway in just a few minutes and the dealers are all seated, the hallways outside are filling up and the prognostication as to the number of entrants has reached a fever pitch.

The "official" guess by the person who would know these kinds of things is that there will be roughly 5,500 entrants, which would be about 1,000 less than last year. However, there have been those more optimistically saying that it will be about the same as last year, with the wildly (and crazily) optimistic saying close to 7,000. Nobody believes them. The number of registrants as of last night sat at about 4,000, but there are still three more starting days and satellites running almost constantly all day and night.

Several notable players are expected to be out in the field today, including Scotty Nguyen and Allen Cunningham, both who will be playing at a featured table here in the Amazon Room. With 30,000 in starting chips, two-hour levels and blinds starting at 50/100, someone will still manage to bust out on the first hand of the tournament. Happens every year.

We'll be here all day bringing you updates and photos from the floor of the Amazon, Brasilia and Miranda Rooms. So keep coming back here or head to our 2009 WSOP Main Event live updates page.