There's a group of people who believe the ancient Mayans predicted the world would end on one particular day (December 21, 2012 to be precise). These believers are preparing for End Times as we speak. As that date is less than two years away, we have an idea. We suggest we play Day 1 of the WSOP every day until then, and then we can all live four times as long. After 96 exhausting hours, we can now put Day 1 of the 2009 WSOP behind us. All 6,494 players who managed to register in time for this event have had their day in the chair. Now it's time to really light this candle and get the WSOP headed toward a bracelet.

Day 1D did not go without controversy. Even the WSOP's able Commissioner -- the event's biggest cheerleader -- called it a "tough and disappointing day." As we reported midway through the afternoon, Day 1D hit its cap before everyone who wanted a seat got one. That resulted several hundred players having to skip the Main Event.

Raj Sawamt of Los Angeles, disappointed that he will not be able to play in the Main Event. Said Sawant, "I want to cry." When it was all said and done, though, nearly 6,500 players had registered to play for more than $60,000,000 in prize money and a first prize of $8,548,435. Some well-known Team PokerStars Pro did not live to see Day 2. Dario Minieri, Anton Allemann, and last year's Main Event runner-up Ivan Demidov all busted out before the end of the day.

Faring much better during Day 1D's five levels were Team PokerStars Pros Chad Brown and Elky who finished with more than 90,000 and 70,000 respectively. Also surviving to Day 2 (chip counts are approximate and were taken with ten minutes left to play): Peter Eastgate (36,000) Jordan Farmer (54,000), Lou Diamond Phillips (40,000), Marlon Wayans (24,000), J.C. Alvarado (70,000), Andre Akkari (97,000), Humberto Brenes (12,500), Noah Boeken (81,000), Johnny Lodden (15,000), Vanessa Rousso (33,500), Victor Ramdin (22,000), Tony Hachem (72,000), Johannes Steindl (52,000), Florian Langmann (54,000), Benjamin Kang (79,000), and Veronica Dabul (9,000)

Like the four-part Day 1, Day 2 will also take longer than the real-world 24 hours. The bifurcated Day 2 begins while the first of two flights tomorrow.

All photos © Joe Giron/IMPDI Worldwide