Hundreds of Fans Fill Rio to Witness WSOP History

The final nine of the World Series of Poker's main event is scheduled to convene in the Amazon Room at the Rio Las Vegas at 2 p.m. and it seems like half of the city is here trying to get a peek at the action.

A line at least 300 yards long made of poker fans stood in the hallways leading to the room, but it quickly shrunk when officials began to allow people to take their seats at about 1 p.m.

Two groups of 400-plus padded chairs are set up where only days before poker tables stood near the set, which is blacked out by a large curtain. The seats are facing several large flat-screen monitors that will show all the poker action (save the holecards, of course).

People have been waiting since before noon to try to get one of the primo bleacher seats surrounding the final table. Two huge guards handled crowd control. The aluminum bleachers could hold an estimated 300-plus, and those who arrived early were awarded the seats.

It has been forming since before noon. People will be shuffled in and out of the bleachers that surround the final table all day to ensure as many as possible get to witness a piece of poker history.

James Read and his boys came all the way from London just to watch the WSOP and to meet some of the poker stars. They were here the other day rooting for Humberto Brenes, but since his run has ended, they're here rooting for the last pro at the table, Allen Cunningham.

"We just really wanted to take in the atmosphere and check it out," Read said. "It's like coming out to meet your movie stars."

There's nothing like being here live, but those who can't make it have several options to follow the action here at the Rio.

CardPlayer.com will report on every single hand played at the final table as well as keep track of all the chip counts. Click here for our complete tournament coverage of this event, including video updates and interviews with the players who were eliminated.

CardPlayer.com has already posted more than 500 videos concerning this year's WSOP.

Also, for the first time, ESPN offers pay-per-view of the entire final table. Details can be found at their website.

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