And on the 7th Day, They Rested

Whew. It's been quite a journey already for the players at this year's World Series of Poker main event, and today they all get a rest -- most can rest the rest of the year, as only around 1200 remain out of the original 8,773. The players start Day 3 all together at last tomorrow, and more than half of those remaining will make the money, with payouts beginning with 873rd place.

There are more pros and notables out than in, so I'll just mention a few pros still in contention for the gold bracelet & 12 million dollar prize:

• Daniel Negreanu, who ended his Day 2 as one of the chip leaders with 331,000 chips
• Allen Cunningham played well on his day and built up 172,000 chips
• Joseph Hachem, Tom McEvoy, Chris Ferguson, and Carlos Mortensen remain as the only 4 former main event bracelet winners left in the field
• Ted "Suicide King" Forrest is staying strong with 125K in chips
• One of my personal faves, Cyndy Violette, is holding her own with 85,000 chips
• Annie Duke is another woman keeping the dream alive for women poker players, with 73,000 chips to sling around

Other notables still around: Josh Arieh, Humberto Brenes, Kathy Liebert, Freddy Deeb, Cecilia Mortensen, Melissa Hayden, Barny Boatman, Susie Isaacs, David Chiu, Layne Flack, Richard Brodie, David Grey, and Phil Ivey, who is hanging by a thread with just 20K in chips.