World Series of Poker’s championship event starts Sunday

They don’t call it the Main Event for nothing. The road to crowning poker’s next champion starts today when several thousand people crowd around the green felt in Las Vegas competing in the World Series of Poker’s Main Event. Each player pays $10,000 to play. The event no longer guarantees a $10 million top prize to the winner but will pay awards to the top 1,000 finishers after players told World Series of Poker organizers they would prefer a wider prize distribution. Based on 2014’s entries, the top winner could earn an $8 million prize. The last nine players left by July 14 will return Nov. 8-10 for the televised final table. – AP