The 2009 WSOP has just wrapped up its second week but shows no signs of slowing down. Events 1 through 13 have so far attracted some serious action and big names, like Phil Hellmuth, Johnny Chan, Phil Ivey and “Miami” John Cernuto. Here is a look at what’s made headlines so far.

Event #1: $500 Casino Employees Tournament

This first WSOP event was open specifically to casino employees. The tournament attracted 861 casino employees who competed for the $83,778 first-place prize money.  When it came down the final table, it was a bartender from the Palms, Andrew Cohen, who won the first of this year’s WSOP bracelets.

Event #2: $40,000 Anniversary Championship No-Limit Hold’em Tournament

Unique to this year’s 40^th anniversary of the WSOP, the $40,000 tournament was one of the most exhilarating event yet. 201 competitors took to the tables to vie for a slice of the $7,718,400 prize pool. In the end Russian poker pro Vitaly Lunkin defeated Isaac Haxton heads-up to win $1,891,018.

Event #3: $1,500 Omaha Hi/Lo 8-or-Better

2009 marks a back to back victory for Thang Luu, who also won last year’s Omaha Hi/Lo 8-or-Better event. In addition to winning a record $263,135 – his largest win to date – Luu has also made WSOP history for his two year winning streak. In 2007, he placed second in this same tournament.

Event #4: $1,000 No-Limit Hold’em

After being disappointed with his no-cash finish in the $40,000 Anniversary Championship, poker pro Steve Sung was delighted with his first-place win in the $1,000 No-Limit Hold’em event.  Sung sat down with 6,012 other entrants in what turned out to be the largest non-WSOP Main Event tournament in poker history. The total prize pool was $5,410,800 and Sung took home $771,338 for this efforts.

Event #5: $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha

Many in North America had not heard of this event’s champion, but Jason Mercier has made quite a name for himself on the European poker circuit, claiming some titles in major old-world tournaments like the EPT. After busting through some vicious competition in a field of 81, Mercier took the lead and won $230,000.

Event #6: $10,000 Seven Card Stud

809 players competed for a slice of $1,134,800 in an exciting game of Seven Card Stud. After 2 days of intense tournament play, Freddie Ellis beat out tournament veteran Eric Drache to take home $373,744. The final 81 players ended up in the money.

Event #7: $1,500 No-Limit Hold’em

Travis Johnson, the winner of the seventh 2009 WSOP event, will be the first to tell you that he is not a professional poker player. While the 30-year-old underwriter from North Hills, CA, won Event 7 $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em at the 2009 WSOP, he admits to only playing once or twice a week. Johnson tore through a field of 2,791 other players to win $666,853 for first place. The total prize pool was $3,809,715.

Event #8: $2,500 2-7 Draw Lowball

World renowned poker pro Phil Ivey is the ecstatic winner of this year’s WSOP $2,500 2-7 Draw Lowball tournament. This marks Ivey’s first WSOP win in four years. Ivey tackled a field of 147 other players to win $96,367 of the $388,100 prize pool.

Event #9: $1,500 No-Limit Hold 'em Shorthanded

Retired teacher and recreational poker player Ken Aldridge from North Carolina schooled 1,459 other hopefuls on the nuisances of the game in the ninth WSOP event.  Aldridge, 57, walked away with $428,259 out of the $1,991,535 prize pool. 144 other players ended up in the money.

Event #10: $2,500 Split Pot-Limit Hold 'em/Pot-Limit Omaha

While the number of competitors in this year’s $2,500 Split Pot-Limit Hold’em/Pot-Limit Omaha event dropped since last year, the action didn’t suffer one bit. In the end, professional poker player Rami Boukai beat out 453 other players and won $244,862 out of the $1,041,900 prize pool. This marks Boukai’s first WSOP bracelet.

Event #11: $2,000 No-Limit Hold’em

28-year-old Anthony Harb won $569,199 for his first place finish in the $2,000 No-Limit Hold’em tournament. This is Harb’s first WSOP win and he beat out 1,646 other players to take the title. The total prize pool was $2,995,720 and 171 players landed in the money.

Event #12: $10,000 World Championship World Mixed Event

Just a few days after placing third in the WSOP’s Seven-Card Stud event, Finland's Ville Wahlbeck won the prestigious $10,000 World Championship World Mixed Event. The booty for first place in this win was $492,384. Out of the 194 players, this final table saw more former WSOP finalists than any other event so far.  The prize pool was $1,823,600. Games included in the Mixed Event were No-Limit Hold'em, Pot-Limit Omaha, Triple-Draw Lowball, Limit Hold'em, Omaha High-Low Split, Razz, Seven-Card Stud, Seven-Card Stud Eight-or-Better.

Event #13: $2,500 No-Limit Event

Keven "Stamdogg" Stammen took down 1,087 competitors to win $506,786 and the gold bracelet in event 13. The sizeable player base was narrowed down to just 20 within a couple of days. A total prize pool of $2,502,400 made for some serious competition, fast action and tense moments.