Las Vegas Weekly

July 13, 2010 · 12:11 PM

2009 champ Joe Cada, Rene Angelil, Gabe Kaplan eliminated from WSOP

By Robin Leach

2009 World Series of Poker champion Joe Cada at the 2010 WSOP at The Rio on May 29, 2010.

Photo: Brian Jones/Las Vegas News Bureau

As of noon today, 1,204 players remain in the Main Event of the World Series of Poker, including UFC ring announcer Bruce Buffer, who has his own new high-limit poker room at the Luxor. Yesterday saw the end of the run at The Rio for Celine Dion’s husband and manager Rene Angelil and actor Gabe Kaplan. Also ousted yesterday were poker favorites Phil Laak, Jennifer Harmon, Chris Moneymaker, David Williams, Erik Seidel, Daniel Negreanu, Vanessa Rousso and last year’s $9 million winner Joe Cada.

But two big stories remain: One is focused on two-time WSOP Main Event winner Johnny Chan, aka “The Orient Express.” After winning back to back in 1987 and 1988, he’s returned more than 20 years later and plays again today with a chip stack around 500,000.

The other interesting subplot is that four Mizrachi brothers -- Robert, Eric, Danny and Michael -- are all still in contention and even playing alongside one another. James Carroll returns with the biggest stack -- passing 800,000 late in the day -- with Imari Love, Gerasimos Deres, Max Casal, Josh Brikis and Johnny Lodden all closely following him.

Tonight, the field should be down to 747 players, and that will burst the money bubble as play ends for Day 4. From that point, everybody wins something, but the talk and the eyes will be all about the Final Nine being determined by the weekend and then returning to play in November for the nearly $9 million ultimate prize.

When we know the Final Nine on Saturday, I’ll be away in Italy, so I’ve asked poker prince Michael Craig to provide a guest column overview of his experience playing in this year’s WSOP. Editor Don Chareunsy will post that Saturday, along with the Final Nine players.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.

Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.

Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.

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