2010 WSOP Main Event Day 1a

After six weeks of preliminary events, the 2010 WSOP Main Event started today at the Rio All-Suites Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. Day 1a was kicked off by 2004 Main Event Champion Greg Raymer who gave the customary "shuffle up and deal."

As always, Day 1 was littered with both amateurs and pros looking to take the richest prize in the game.

Among those in the Day 1a field were T.J. Cloutier, Chris Moneymaker, Lee Watkinson, Chino Rheem, WSOPE Main Event Champion Barry Shulman, Al Barbieri, Jimmy Fricke, Andy Black, Billy Baxter, Tiffany Michelle and $50,000 Player's Championship winner Michael Mizrachi.

Among the celebrities in the field were Ray Romano and David Alan Grier.

Each of the 1,125 players who started on Day 1 began with 30,000 in chips.

Greg Raymer was crippled early in this event when he moved all-in with top pair and flush draw against the set of an opponent.

Raymer failed to hit and was down to just 1,200 in chips. Soon afterwards, Raymer was all-in with pocket eights and an opponent woke up with aces. Raymer couldn't catch and was out the Main Event in under 90 minutes.

Four and a half levels were played on Day 1a and at the end of the day's action, Dwyen Ringbauer appears to be the unofficial chip leader. Michael Mizrachi is in 2nd place with 142,650 in chips.

Other players making Day 2 of the WSOP 2010 Main Event were Chris Moneymaker, Lacey Jones, Dwyte Pilgrim, Dewey Tomko, Dutch Boyd, Beth Shak, and Mickey Mills.

Below are the top 10 in chips as reported by press time:

Stay tuned to pokerjunkie.com as we bring your recaps from the Main Event of the 2010 World Series of Poker.