244 players took to the felt at Harrah’s Atlantic City for the World Series of Poker Circuit Main Event, including superstars like Cyndy Violette, Andy Black and Robert Williamson III. Many WSOP Circuit regulars were also in the field, including past champions Louie Esposito (New Orleans), Carlos Uz (Indiana) and Rick Rosetti (Atlantic City 2006). The players combined for a $1,195,600 prize pool, with $379,392 going to first place, along with the WSOP Circuit Championship Ring.
After tasting WSOP success at last year’s Main Event, talk show host Montel Williams joined the fray in Atlantic City as well. Williams made it through Day 1, picking up a pile of chips late when he made a gutsy call on a flop 
. Williams, holding 
, called his opponent’s bet to see a turn of 
. His opponent checked, Williams bet, and his opponent went all in for just a few more chips. Williams made the call and was relieved when his opponent tabled 
. The 
on the river busted his opponent and gave Williams enough chips to see Day 2.
Not all of the big name players were as fortunate, with Andy Black, Doug ‘Rico’ Carli, Alan ‘BodogAri’ Engel, and Cyndy Violette all busting out on Day 1. As play ended for the night, the top 10 chip stacks looked like this -
Ben Fineman – 135,000
Rick Rosetti – 117,000
Robert Williamson III – 91,000
Louie Esposito – 86,000
John Racener – 80,000
Mike Sica – 80,000
Patrick Fee – 80,000
Matt Brady – 70,000
Matt ‘Allinat420’ Stout – 65,500
Charlie Minter – 52,000