The train is leaving the station for the Rio in Las Vegas at a break-neck speed as pokerstars and Full Tilt have their 150 and 100 guaranteed World Series of Poker Main Event seats tourneys going on right now.

Sorry if I posted this a tad late for those looking to hop into what is sure to be another large crowd handing over $10,000 for the chance to call themselves "World Champion". No other professional event allows the rank amateur to have a shot against "the best of the best" in playing for the lifelong title of World Champion, and some side cash that may help you make the cable bill payments next month.

Jamie Gold took home $12 Million last year (minus a side cut but that's a story you'll have to dig into the posting vault the back story) after defeating over eight thousand players and Paul Wasicka heads up for the win. This year it is widely known that the effects of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act is set to curb those record breaking fields for the main event, but so far in the series those effects have not come to roost as all poker publications have been announcing record fields for almost all events.

For the two tournaments PokerStars will be sending an additional 220 players to the WSOP Main Event due to nearly 7000 entries into its $370 last chance qualifer tonight. And after nearly five hours of play 1100 are still vying for those seats.

Full Tilt's $535 tourney shoved off with 3338 sailors aboard rickety rafts trying to win a few coinflips on the way to the grand stage of the WSOP. And with all those entries Full Tilt will be sending 140 players donning the Full Tilt jerseys and hats (with .net markings of course). After three and half hours nearly 75% of the field is gone leaving 800 runners left for those seats. Good luck to all!

Nice to see both of the larger US friendly sites still cranking out people to fill those seats for the big one.