The first of four Regional Championships leading up to the end of season World Series of Poker Circuit National Championship, got underway yesterday at the Horseshoe Hammond Casino just outside of Chicago; the Regional specifically designated to ferret out the best in the Midwest.

This new idea for a $10,000 buy-in tournament, would have to be seen by most as a success thus far, having attracted a total 226 runners to the land of The Loop as well as numerous top pros like Jeff Madsen, Sorel Mizzi, Tom Marchese, Andrew Frankenberger and Amnon Fillippi- each of whom busted before the end of Day 1 play.

Fortunately for WSOP Circuit organizers- no doubt nervous about this event’s eventual airing on Cable TV’s Versus channel- many other top pros not only also attended this inaugural event, but even survived the first day including Poppa PokerRoad Barry Greenstein, Kathy Liebert, Allen “Chainsaw” Kessler, Chad Brown, Nick Binger, Vanessa Selbst, Shannon Shorr and Bernard Lee, who currently sits near the top of the chip leaderboard, with around 120 players still remaining.

Day 2 of this 4 day scheduled event begins today, at 1 p.m. Central time, when those above listed players, and numerous other notable pros, will reconvene to continue towards a posted top prize of $525,449, a WSOP Circuit ring, and entry into the WSOP Circuit 2010/2011 National Championship.  To catch the action as they batttle, check out live tournament updates on the web, provided by PokerNews.