Field Shrinks, Doyle Shows, Selbst Contends

All three Day 1s of the 2012 World Series of Poker Main Event are officially in the books and, as early as it is, contenders are starting to emerge.

While numbers for this year's Main Event are slightly down, there are still big stories to follow such as Vanessa Selbst starting Day 2 among the chip leaders and Doyle Brunson possibly making one last run.

Total Field Size = 6,598

As many expected, the Main Event field experienced a little shrinkage this year with a total of 6,598 players entering the event.

A total of 6,865 players took their seat in the WSOP Main Event last year, meaning a 267-player drop in the field year-over-year.

The total prize pool for the event sits at just over $62 million and first place will take home $8.52 million.

Doyle Brunson Pulls a Favre and Plays

Doyle Brunson had claimed on the second day of the Main Event that he was not going to play this year because he was too fatigued from cash games.

However, about an hour after the start of the Day 1c, Doyle showed up to take another shot.

Earlier this summer, Brunson claimed that this would be his last WSOP and, if that holds true, this could be Texas Dolly's last run in the big one.

Selbst and Negreanu Among Contenders in Early Play

Daniel Negreanu has had a rough time at the 2012 WSOP this year and said prior to the start of the Main Event that he was saving his luck for this event.

So far, Negreanu has proven prophetic as he has over 140,000 in chips going into Day 2.

Vanessa Selbst has had a much more profitable WSOP than Negreanu and is so far the high woman on the totem pole after finishing Day 1 with 168,350 in chips.

Selbst already has two final tables and a bracelet this summer and with the right balance of solid play and luck, she could become the first woman since Barbara Enright to make the Main Event final table.

With Day 1 now in the books, players' thoughts turn to trying to build chips to work their way to the money and then a run to the final table.

Over the next two weeks, we will find out who will rise to the top and battle for poker's greatest prize.