The World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event is now in full swing following a record Day 1c turnout of 4,571 players, as a total 7,874 entrants battle it out to get their share of the $74m prize pool.

The grand prize for the winner of the tournament being held at the Rio All-Suites Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada now totals a staggering $8.8m, the second largest in the events history.

With the largest field of players the WSOP has seen since 2006, there a quite a few big names to look out for on the gaming floor.

Samuel Touil, Daniel Negreanu, Chris Moneymaker, Patrick Antonius, and Phil Ivey are but some of the famous names from the poker world in attendance.

Touil currently leads the pack with an impressive 352,800 chips with a somewhat unknown American Peter Forsstrom breathing down his neck in second with 283,200.

"I think I played very well all day longÂ", said Touil, "I got very lucky on a big hand when I four-bet shoved with six-eight of hearts on the button and flopped two pair for a pot of more than 145K. I just played my game today and my stack has never been at risk."

That stack could be even safer now considering that both Daniel Negreanu and Chris Moneymaker have already exited the tournament.

Negreanu, a six time WSOP bracelet winner and 38 times Final table player, saw his all in with a pair of Jacks called by an opponent who managed to hit a set of 10Â's.

Patrick Antonius, the Finnish pro poker play who has sat on three WSOP Final tables, is also one of the attendees, making his first appearance in the tournament for six years.

"It felt very special to be back," he said. "I got in after dinner break, brought a lot of action to the table and managed to get some big hands."

"It was great to see so many poker players I have not seen in so long. I am very tired and going to rest for a while after this."