WSOP 2011 - Week Six Headlines - Third Largest Main Event Ever, Binger and Anter win final two events, 2011 officially largest ever WSOP

RIO CASINO, LAS VEGAS - Day one of the 42nd Annual World Series of Poker Main Event is over after four flights and nearly 7,000 players took to the felt. 897 Players sat down on Thursday for day 1a, with 985 on day 1b, 2,181 on day 1c and 2,802 on day 1d for a total of 6,865 entrants, a prizepool of $64,531,000 and a first prize of $8,711,956.

The big question on everyone's lips before the start of the series was, "how many entries will there be in the Main Event?" Sceptics had been saying that after the events of "Black Friday" that there would be less than 5,000 entrants, but it seems that the number of live satellites and success of the rest of the series has attracted a huge field.

Chip leaders after the end of all four day ones are Fred Berger - 209,000 (day 1a), Ben Lamb - 188,925 (day 1b), Kevin Song (163,325) and Mory Little - 179,450 (day 1d). Lamb's remarkable series continues with a great start to the Main Event giving him a chance at a deep run in the big one. Lamb has already collected over $1m in prizes at this year's series with a bracelet in the $10k PLO and three other deep runs and big cashes.

Day 2 will have two flights, the first of which begins tomorrow.

The fantastic field of for the Main Event meant that this year's series has surpassed all previous series in terms of entries and prize pool. (source: WSOP.com)

A record 75,672 entries in 58 events created the largest prize pool in WSOP history: $191,999,010.

The new all-time high in entrants surpassed by 3.7 percent the previous record of 72,966 set last year; this year’s record prize pool eclipsed the previous high of $187,109,850 set in 2010 by 2.6 percent.

For the seventh consecutive year, the WSOP generated a total prize pool well in excess of $100 million.

In the 42-year history of the WSOP, the prestigious tournament has now awarded more than $1.4 billion in prize money. (Actual figure is: $1,420,374,131)

It is easy to forget the incredible series that has passed now that the Main Event is in full swing. In fact, two events were still in action as the biggest tournament in the world started on Thursday.

Nick Binger claimed his first ever WSOP bracelet in Event #57 $5,000 Pot Limit Omaha Hi-Lo Split-8 or Better. A long heads up encounter with David Bach meant that the duo had to return for a Day 4 on Thursday to decide the winner. It was Binger who finally bested his rival for a prize of $397,073 and a special piece of jewellery.

Alexander (Hasan) Anter of Sweden won Event #56 $1,500 No Limit Hold'em for $777,928 to conclude the series before the Main Event. The final hand of the event saw Anter make a Royal Flush on the river; making him the first ever bracelet winner to win his or her title with the best hand in poker.