It’s time! The 2012 World Series of Poker Main Event is about to kick off from Las Vegas. We’re not exactly sure how many members of PocketFives will be in attendance for Day 1A on Saturday, but we do know that a large overall turnout is expected. WSOP Tournament Director Jack Effel was encouraging entrants to show up early, pointing out on Twitter, “Long lines today for everything.” Tables in action for the Main Event were even sighted outside of Buzio’s seafood restaurant at the Rio.

How many people do you think will enter this year’s Main Event? Respond to our Facebook poll and tell us.

PocketFives Traininginstructor Russell rdcrsn Carson was waiting until Monday to enter the world’s largest poker tournament, posting on Twitter, “WSOP Main Event starts today, my Day 1 doesn’t start till Monday though. You can check updates here and on FB #goingdeep #fb.” Carson has yet to record a cash in this year’s WSOP, but had two of over $30,000 in 2011.

Starting on Day 1A was longtime PocketFives member Jamie pokerjamers Armstrong, who Tweeted, “Barely slept, really excited for the main event today. Hope it doesn’t end quickly!” Armstrong nearly recorded a bracelet earlier in this year’s series, finishing second in a $1,000 No Limit Hold’em tournament for $273,000. No wonder he’s excited.

To say that Eric blizair Blair was pumped up for the Main Event to begin would be an understatement. Blair posted on Twitter, “Main Event today and feeling great! #GreatestTournamentintheworld.” Blair has already recorded four in the money finishes at this year’s WSOP, the largest of which was for $6,600.

Andres andressoprano Pereyra wished all Main Eventers good luck: “Main event begins: If you play today and I have a piece of your action, good luck. If I don’t have a piece but we are friends, good luck.” Pereyra recorded the first three cashes of his WSOP career this year for a total of $12,000.

2012 WSOP bracelet winner Brent bhanks11 Hanks (pictured) is also set to play on Monday’s Day 1C and Tweeted, “Good luck to everyone playing the Main! Hopping in this beauty on Monday – Gettin my laxxxx on. #Hashtag.” This author is a big fan of #Hashtag, by the way. It’s very clever. Hanks won a $1,500 No Limit Hold’em tournament for over a half-million dollars this year.

U.K. pokerplayer Rhys floppinhelJones spent his Friday night trying to satellite into the Main Event. Jones posted the results: “Won Main Event seat in 2k sat tonight. One day I’ll return to going to bed when it’s dark. #exhausted #winner.” Jones took down the PartyPoker $200,000 Guaranteed in February for $45,000 and is #20 in the U.K. poker rankings.

Joining Jones in winning a Main Event seat at the last minute was Sam TheSquid Grafton, who Tweeted, “Won a seat for the Main with @coreyburbick and @floppinhel. The bubble was played out with scenes reminiscent of the sinking of the Titanic.” Grafton and Jones both Tweeted that they had won their seats around 6:00am PT Saturday morning.

Mike Gags30 Gagliano is also among the players in action on Sunday, succinctly posting on Twitter, “Main event today. Ready.” Gagliano is an instructor at PocketFives Training and finished seventh in a $2,500 No Limit Hold’em WSOP tournament this year for $83,000.

Several players were holding drawings for a portion of their Main Event earnings to anyone who re-Tweeted a message or began following them on Twitter. Jason treysfull21 Mercier (pictured, left), who sits at #2 in the ESPN poker rankings The Nuts, sarcastically responded, “I’m having a drawing for 0.00000000001% of my main event action, anyone who starts following me and re-Tweets this is eligible #whenwillitend.”

For a parting thought, we’ll turn to Jon EMSBas Spinks, who Tweeted the coincidence of the century: “WSOP Main Event day! The final table is played 28th-30th Oct this year. my bday is on the 30th… #mustbeasign.” Spooky.

The schedule for Saturday will be as follows. The tournament will begin at Noon PT, with registration remaining open through the first four levels and closing around 4:40pm PT. Shaun shaundeebDeeb’s grandmother, 92 year old Ellen Deeb, will give the “Shuffle up and deal” command shortly before High Noon.

If you’re planning to play in the Main Event on Day 1A, or any day, then post in this PocketFives thread so the community can root you on. Good luck to all online poker players in the 2012 WSOP Main Event.

HogWild Poker, a free, U.S.-friendly online poker site, makes PocketFives’ WSOP coverage possible. The site is staking 10 players with $500 buy-ins to live events at casino tournaments of their choice every month. On top of that, each month, HogWild is throwing in a $2,000 staking package to a WSOP Circuit Main Event. Sign up for HogWild Poker for free today by clicking here. U.S. players are welcome.