THE 30TH WORLD Series of Poker (WSOP) will begin on June 1st and continue through July 17th. The saying, "You've come a long way baby" is fitting here.

From not having enough players to spread a 10-handed hold-em game (with only a $5,000 buy-in yet!) in 1970, Benny Binion's brain child has grown to over 8,000 players in the main event of 2006.

It seems like only yesterday (almost) when this columnist was a nervous rookie dealer in the 1st "Official WSOP" (1971) in which Johnny Moss defeated five other opponents and received the 1st WSOP bracelet.

Since the WSOP's humble beginnings many poker players enjoy celebrity status, and many celebrities are poker players.

There have been close to 1,000 bracelets awarded to event winners both professional and amateurs from all over the world since 1971. This year 55 more champions will join their ranks.

Not to be forgotten is the PRIZE MONEY, which to many players is just as important as the diamond-studded wrist candy they will win. Last year Jamie Gold won $12,000,000, (a far cry from the $50,000 won by Moss just three short decades ago) when he bested over 8,700 fellow players.

Big numbers are expected again this year, hoping to follow in the footsteps of Johnny Moss, Amarillo Slim, Doyle Bronson, Johnny Chan, Chris Moneymaker and other recent winner that will be in attendance, in spite of the decline of many Internet poker sites, which have produced many players through their satellites, and helped contribute to the WSOP's popularity the past few years.

Below is a schedule of this year's events:

www.worldseriesofpoker.com/tourney/tourneyDetails.asp?groupID=309

Look for me at the Rio from where I plan to do a series of articles based on the prospective of both players and "sweaters" that want to be poker pros or WSOP participants.