I may be the only geek that even thought of such a thing, but I’ve been wondering for a while if I needed to consider biting the bullet and upgrading to ESPNHD in time for the WSOP. Everything’s better in high-definition, and imagine the Sihoki coming to you in crisp, clear, bright beautiful color. The felt is that much greener, Phil Gordon’s eyes are that much bluer, and you can really make out the agony on a player’s face when the soul-crushing bad beat hits on the river.

I asked an ESPN rep if I needed to upgrade for this year’s WSOP, and he said no, but that next year’s would be coming to us in HD. He also mentioned that it’d probably be cheaper Sihoki if you were to sign up for the service now rather than next year, but I’m pretty sure I know a marketing ploy when I hear it. Personally, I’ll wait.

Player Profile: Joe Lloyd

From Norwalk, Conn., Joe Lloyd, 35, also survived Day 1. Qualifing via the PartyPoker Steps tournaments, Joe said last level was rough. Throughout the day he had worked his way up to $45,000, but ended the day with $25,000.

Player Profile: Marice Cooke

Marice Cooke started today as one of the ladies’ overall chip leaders with 55,875. She had at least that, if not more in her stack when I caught up with her at the end of the first break. Marice earned her Main Event buyin through a $3 rebuy satellite on Party Poker– not a bad return on her investment.

Remarkably, Marice has only been playing no-limit hold’em for six months. With a cool stare and quiet confidence, I’d say she already has an awesome poker face.

Player Profile: Alvaro Macias

Alvaro Macias, 34, paid $60 for his seat at the WSOP main event. The PartyPoker online player qualified through the Steps tournaments. Not only is this Macias’ first WSOP, but it is his first time playing live poker. He said playing live is logistically difficult because online the computer tells you everything. Physically handling and counting his chips is a little more of a challenge as well as having to think through his playing options.

“The computer tells you what your options are,” he said. “Also not being able to see my cards during the whole hand is difficult. Sometimes I look at my cards once and then forget what I have after I have bet.”

Macias suffered a bad beat earlier in the day shrinking his stack to $3000, but worked his way back to end Day 1 with $15,000.

Macias is from Madrid, Spain.