PHIL IVEY IS ALL SMILES AS HE SEEKS 9TH WSOP GOLD BRACELET AT WSOPE MAIN EVENT

Day Three of the 2010 WSOP Europe Main Event has ended.

There are only 22 players still remaining in what began as a world-class field of 346. 

The current chip leader is Ronald Lee, from Jericho, NY (USA).  This is Lee’s deepest run ever in a WSOP event.  He faces a formidable test over the next day or two with several notable opponents still alive in the tournament.

Among the former gold bracelet winners remaining are Phil Ivey (USA), Hoyt Corkins (USA), Roland de Wolfe (UK), and Greg Mueller (Canada).

Day Three began with 66 survivors.  The session ended about ten hours later in lightening-fast time, with several huge confrontations and big pots.  Chips flew around the table from stack to stack in a whirlwind of activity.  The chip lead changed multiple times during the day.

Players reached the money midway through the playing session.  The unfortunate “bubble” finisher was Randy Blondeau (Canada), who suffered the cruelty of finishing 37th – exactly one place out of the money.

The day concluded with the elimination of three-time gold bracelet winner Barry Greenstein, who exited from the tournament.  He lost the final hand of the night holding pocket aces, which lost to David Steinberg’s pocket tens.  Greenstein accepted 23rd place and the night ended.

A few other poker notables remain alive, as well.  They include online high-stakes pro and alleged mystery man "Isildur," a.k.a. Viktor Blom (Sweden) and local favorite and Hendon troupe member Barny Boatman (UK).
 
Here’s a list of the players still in the Main Event with their approximate chip counts.  Click HERE.

This year's Main Event attracted a slight increase in participation over last year.  The total prize pool amounts to £3,460,000, equal to about $5,475,363 (USD).  The top 36 finishers will collect prize money.  First place will pay £830,401, equal to about $1,314,176 (USD).

This year’s edition of WSOP Europe is currently taking place at Casino at the Empire in central London.

Play will continue on Day Four, which takes place on Monday starting at noon.  Players will play down to the final nine.  The Main Event runs through Tuesday, September 28th.

Stay tuned to WSOP.com for more news and information.  Live tournament updates can be seen HERE

In other Poker Games news….
 
Four events have already been held this year at WSOP Europe.  The three previous winners were:

EVENT #1:  Phil Laak (£2,500 buy-in Six-Handed No-Limit Hold’em)

EVENT #2:  Jeffrey Lisandro (£5,000 buy-in Pot-Limit Omaha)

EVENT #3:  Scott Shelley (£1,000 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em)

EVENT #4:  Gus Hansen (£10,000 buy-in High-Roller Heads-Up No-Limit Hold’em Championship)
 
For more information about WSOP Europe, please click HERE.