WSOP Event #3: Day 1 Sets A New Record

The 2009 World Series of Poker has just begun and with the Event #3, a
record has already been broken. Day 1 of the $1,500 Omaha Hi/Lo 
Split-8 or Better attracted 918 players, nearly 100 more than in 2008,
thus making it the biggest Omaha Hi/Lo event in the WSOP history.

With a record number of entries, the prize pool reached $1,253,070 with
the first place finisher being awarded $230,930. With such a low
buy-in, most of the field was expected to consist of recreational
players, but surprisingly, many top pros also showed up to play.
Shannon Shorr commented:

"It sucks to go from a $40,000 No Limit game to a $1,500 Fixed Limit
game, but you can't think of it like that. You have to show up and play."

Also seen at the tables were Allen Cunningham, John Phan, Phil Hellmuth, Daniel Negreanu, Annie
Duke, Chris Ferguson, Hoyt Corkins and others. At the end of the day,
the original field came down to 197 players with the defending champion of last year's event, Thang Luu in the chip lead with 73,600 in chips.