Day 1 at the World Series of Poker

Saturday, July 29, 2006 | 5:35 a.m.

DAY: 1

BIG NEWS: The world's biggest poker tournament kicked off with 8,580 registered players, easily topping last year's 5,619, and pushing the top prize to $11.7 million. The 12 final players will win at least $1 million. More players can still enter for a $10,000 seat until Monday.

STUD OF THE DAY: "Saturday Night Live" star Norm MacDonald's pocket aces failed him when Australian pro Mark Vos' queen and jack both paired on the board. Vos later knocked MacDonald out with an ace-high straight when MacDonald made a lower straight. Vos amassed $79,500 in chips and held the lead heading into the dinner break.

BUSTED OUT: James Garner, Tobey Maguire, Chris "Jesus" Ferguson, Chris Masterson, Mekhi Phifer, Antonio Tarver and Norm MacDonald.

CELEBRITY UPDATE: After busting out, Maguire paid $540 to enter a so-called "second chance" tournament that runs every day at 5 p.m. By 7 p.m. he had about 2,000 in chips, after starting with 1,500, and was getting a massage. Entrants play just for the stakes entered; their main event lives are over.

POKER TALK: River: The last of five community cards that are dealt face up, and which players must combine with their two hole cards to make the best five-card hand. Can also be used as a verb. E.g. Pro Andy Bloch said he got lucky when his hole cards, two nines, matched up with another nine on the river, beating a player holding two aces. "I rivered a nine," Bloch said.

UP NEXT: On Saturday, the second field of more than 2,000 players will play down to 900 players at most. On Sunday and Monday, the third and fourth fields will play, completing the first round.

HE SAID WHAT?: "I've been here since June 26, so I'm kind of pooped. If I advance, it'll be seven weeks. It, at least for me, answers the question, 'How much is too much poker?'" - James McManus, poker player, author of "Positively Fifth Street."