This year's record-setting field represents the strongest poker field ever assembled, Among the favorites:

Doyle Brunson
The two-time World Champion is considered the greatest player to every play the game. Wrote the poker bible, Super System, an instructional guide he now regrets writing because it made his opponents better. At 69, the Babe Ruth of Poker still is in his prime.

Johnny Chan
Immortalized in the film Rounders as the perfect player. Won back to back World Championships in 1987 and 1988, the last man to repeat as champion.

Phil Hellmuth Jr.
Dropped out of the University of Wisconsin where his father was a Dean to play poker professionally. Best known for two things: Being the youngest person to win the world title and for his reputation as poker's bad boy.

Annie Duke
Mother of four generally hailed as the greatest female player ever. Finished 10th in 2000 while eight months pregnant.

Robert Varkonyi
In his first appearance at the World Series last year, the MIT graduate won the World Championship. Trying to become the first player since Johnny Chan to repeat.

ESPN will provide unprecedented coverage of the most lucrative tournament in sports, offering seven one-hour shows that cover all five days.

Play by Play: Lon McEachern
Analyst: Norman Chad