BIG NEWS: Play opened in the 39th World Series of Poker main event Thursday, with nearly 1,300 players putting down $10,000 each in hopes of making it through a 10-hour day of no-limit Texas Hold ‘em.

Flanked by 10 showgirls, Las Vegas icon Wayne Newton delivered the famous order — “Shuffle up and deal!” The UNLV marching band played Elvis Presley’s “Viva Las Vegas,” and some players showed up in costumes. One wore a full wizard’s outfit complete with a white, Merlin-esque beard

Famous faces playing on Day 1 included comedian Ray Romano, actors Jason Alexander and Mekhi Phifer and poker pros Scotty Nguyen, Barry Greenstein, Joe Hachem and Dan Harrington.

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