WSOP Main Event Preview

As a lot of people may know, the World Series of Poker Main Event begins tomorrow and all of poker’s best and brightest players are gearing up for a shot at the big money.  We won’t know for sure just how many people are expected to be in attendance for poker’s crown event, but we’ll know for sure after the signup is over tomorrow.  I suspect that this year’s Main Event will eclipse the numbers that were seen in 2008.

We can be rest assured that the biggest stars in poker will also be turning out for the Main Event since….hey, it’s the Main Event.  The cameras will no doubt be focusing on last year’s champion Peter Eastgate who walked away with over $9.1 million after taking first.  But the odds are against Eastgate making a deep run this year as he’s admitted that he hasn’t played well this year in tournaments.  And it’s no surprise either since everyone has been gunning for him anywhere he plays because they all want to knock the WSOP Main Event champion out.

Last year’s runner-up Ivan Demidov will also be another person people will gun for since he not only finished second in the WSOP, but made the final table in the WSOPE too.  This is a feat that may never be accomplished again!!  Speaking of near impossible feats, Phil Hellmuth will be focused on as well since he’ll be looking to add to his record 11 gold bracelets.  Hellmuth has not had a good WSOP so far, but a deep finish in the Main Event could change that.

As for a favorite, it’s almost impossible to pick one out of what could be a 7,000 player field, but I’ll go with Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier.  This just seems to be his year in everything that is poker, but he’s not so famous that everyone will be gunning for him.