poker buff

Some of the big gambling names managed to ward of being eliminated as the 2006 WSOP main event heats up. Poker pros Daniel Negreanu, Annie Duke and defending champion Joseph Hachem are among the 124 players still in the running for the gold bracelet and the $12 million first prize.

The 2006 World Series of Poker heats up as the pool of players was cut down to 124 Staurday.

Poker pros Daniel Negreanu, Annie Duke and defending champion Joseph Hachem of Australia were among the 124 players that were still in the running Saturday in the Main Event of the World Series of Poker being held at the Rio All-Suites Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.

At around 5:30 pm, New York’s Alex Balandin was the chip leader with $2 million, while William Thorsson was second with $1.15 million.

At fourth place was Dmitri Nobles, the leader in the no-limit Texas Hold’em tournament earlier in the week, with $881,000.

Annie Duke had $408,000 in chips, Alex Cunningham with $310,000, Hachem with $175,000 while Negreanu had $60,000. Humberto Brenes was on 34th place with $540,000.

Ken Jacobs, son of noted poker player Tom Jacobs, was pushed back at 83rd place after losing $140,000 Saturday.

The day saw many noted names eliminated including poker pros Kathy Liebert and Cyndy Violette, together with longtime player Hoyt Corkins.

However, none of the remaining players are going home empty handed, as the final 873 players in the tournament are guaranteed a share in the purse, enabling them to win a least part of the $10,000 buy-in.

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