The network has been airing the 2008 World Series of Poker preliminary events for the last couple months, and now that it's plowed through them all, it's time to dive into the Main Event. The first two-hour episode will begin running tonight at 8 p.m. ET.

Some highlights from this first episode may be Scotty Nguyen's feature table.

Nguyen created some buzz recently when ESPN aired the $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. event, which the Prince of Poker took down. Nguyen had what some describe as a "meltdown," swearing and causing disruptions at the final table while potentially drunk.

"He had a meltdown last year in the final event and this year at the final table, when play was down to the final three of the biggest and most prestigious event of the Series, something happened to him," wrote Susie Isaacs in her blog.

"It was as if some ugly, vulgar, demon invaded Scotty's body. He didn't even look like the same person as he spewed his venom."

Nguyen has since issued an apology via e-mail to many of his fans who took the time to voice their complaints through his official Web site.

"Last year's Main Event I made the mistake of letting someone get under my skin, of which overtook my mental focus of the game, and cost me my tournament along with a lot of disappointment amongst my fans and peers," writes Nguyen according to a fan who had e-mailed him.

"Since that time, it has haunted me and even now with the mistake that I made. As a professional, you always critique yourself to make yourself better, and in doing so you have to focus on the mistakes you make, in order to improve."

Nguyen points out that several hours of final-table footage were edited down to just an hour and a half for the show, which could affect how he came across to TV viewers. He also said he wasn't sorry he defeated his opponents, but was sorry that his fans may see him in a negative light.

He may get a chance to redeem himself with the fans in tonight's coverage of Day 1a of the WSOP Main Event. Along with his play at the feature table, poker fans may get to see action from Shannon Shorr, Dan Harrington, Lyle Berman, Bobby Baldwin, David "Devilfish" Ulliott, Eric Froehlich and more.

Comedian and actor Ray Romano and actor Mekhi Phifer both played in Day 1a as well.

Main Event coverage will continue on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET until Sept. 30. Then it will continue on Tuesdays at 9 p.m. Oct. 7-28.

On Nov. 4, ESPN will air a Main Event final-table preview show at 9 p.m., and then the final table will air Nov. 11 at 9 p.m.

Poker fans can find all of our live coverage from the Main Event in the 2008 WSOP Live Tournaments section, and we'll return to the Rio as well to provide live coverage of the Main Event final table in November.