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Sunday, September 21st was not just the first day of fall, but the grand opening of Poker Stars.com World Championship of Online Poker (WCOOP) Main Event. 2,185 entrants posted the $5k buy-in, or skillfully worked their way into a free seat at the tables, jumping the $10m guaranteed prize pool by nearly another million, to an impressive $10,925,000.

The 2-day WCOOP Main Event is the first online poker tournament to award such a massive guaranteed prize where the top place finisher will actually walk away with $1.7 million to show for it. Overall, 352 participants will eat a piece of that beautiful $10.9 million pie.

Taking an early exit on day one of the PokerStars WCOOP Main Event were several big names in th professional poker industry, including Greg Raymer, Chris Moneymaker, Isabelle Mercier, Vicky Coren, Dario Minieri, and Annette Obrestad, winner of the inaugural 2007 WSOP Europe.

Action will resume at 4:30pm ET today as the remaining 60 participants reconvene on the tables to write history. “august35” holds the current chip lead with 3,865,986. Alex “AJKHoosier1” Kamberis is currently in fourth position with 2,184,184 chips and Team PokerStar.net’s Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier is still in the running with 482,177.

We can expect tight, fierce action as the final 60 dwindles down. Everyone is eyeing that awesome 1st place prize of $1,775,312.50… may the best poker player win!

Remember, you can practive for the next WCOOP tournament for free at PokerStars.net!

September has been an awesome month across the boards for online poker players and operators alike, but today’s top story comes from FullTiltPoker where five exceptionally talented online poker players have already earned over $1 million in September alone.

Topping the list is professional poker player Phil Ivey, known for his extreme skills, unwavering poker face, 5 WSOP Bracelet wins and nearly $10 million in live tournament cashes over his phenomenal career.

Ivey has experienced a not-so-pleasant string of bad luck this year, including a short-lived run at the 2008 World Series of Poker and some highly expensive proposition bets he would just as soon forget about than further comment on. All of that seems to be turning around for Phil Ivey, now.

Over the last few months, Ivey has been raking in the chips at Full Tilt Poker’s high stakes games, and September has been a month to remember for the young poker pro. With his focus primarily on Full tilt Poker “RailHeaven” and $2k/$4k H.O.R.S.E. tables, Ivey has pocketed more than $1.44 million just in the first 19 days of the month.

Next on the list is Ilari “Ziigmund” Sahamies, drawing in $1.342 million thus far at Full Tilt Poker. Known for his unstable temperament and fluctuating bankroll, “Ziigmund” proved his incredible skills by turning his game around over the year. Prior to September, Sahamies was posting one of the largest overall losses at www.FullTiltPoker.com for 2008. His Omaha Hi-Lo play has made a significant difference, earning him $962k alone this month.

Full Tilt Pro Patrik Antonius is also known for his ups and downs when it comes to chip stacks, but he has made out quite well this September, playing well enough at high stakes games to bring in $1.304 million this month.

Hac “trex313″ Dang takes the fourth spot, having claimed $1.21 million at Full Tilt Poker in September. Dang has been spending his time grinding away at Phil Ivey in heads-up play, and a few other high stakes players at the online poker room. His quarterfinal, $96k victory at the Full Tilt Poker $25k Heads-Up Championship didn’t hurt either. September has not been the only kind month to Hac “trex313” Dang, bringing his total Full Tilt Poker earnings for 2008 to $3.059 million.

Last but certainly not least comes David Benyamine, another Full Tilt Pro with plenty of strategic experience under his virtual belt. A $1.14 million profit this month brings David’s total 2008 winnings at Full Tilt Poker to an intensely impressive $4.616 million.

Let’s hope these sensational poker pros can keep up the good work at FullTiltPoker.com. A round of heartwarming applause goes out to these highly skilled online poker players, along with a sincere pat on the back to everyone who sorrowfully contributed losses to these guys’ exceptional profits.

The long-awaited 2008 World Series of Poker Europe (WSOPE) finally got underway last weekend, and BodogPoker has found a way to keep its members right there in the action without the need to fly potentially halfway around the world.

BodogPoker is offering proposition bets on the outcome of WSOPE Events. For example, who will win one of the first three WSOPE Bracelets awarded this year? What nationality will the bracelet winners be? In its opening season last year, the WSOPE did not award a bracelet to any American players – will that change this year?

Bodog Poker’s WSOPE Main Event prop bets include whether an American can make it further than last year’s 3rd place finish by Team Bodog poker player Matt McCollough. Which pros will get the furthest along – Doyle Brunson, Phil Ivey, Johnny Chan, Phil Hellmuth, or maybe Team Bodog’s own David Williams? Could another female make an appearance at this year’s final table?

Prop bets are also available on sheer numbers at the WSOPE Main Event. Just how many participants will show up with the €10,000 buy-in, plus those who won their seat in the 2008 WSOPE?

Bodog Poker and the Bodog Sportsbook are proving that it doesn’t take a poker player to profit from one of the largest live poker tournaments in the world.