Former World Series of Poker champs bow out

The World Series of Poker main event will have a new title winner this year.

Just two gold bracelet winners remained in a field of 29 players after six hours of play on Tuesday, each having won tournaments at the series other than its $10,000 buy in no-limit Texas Hold ’em main event.

Last year’s champion Peter Eastgate was eliminated late Monday in 78th place, winning $68,979. He and 2005 champion Joe Hachem were the last remaining former champions in the tournament. Hachem busted in 103rd place.

Still competing were seven-time gold bracelet winner Phil Ivey and Antonio Esfandiari, who won a pot-limit Hold ’em bracelet in 2004.

Esfandiari, who started the day sixth in chips with 5.6 million, said he didn’t think his pot-limit Hold ’em win from 2004 would necessarily set him apart from his competitors, but said it could give him a small leg up as they battle on poker’s biggest stage.

“It’s just having experience in a late stage tournament where first place is so valuable – a lot of people crack under that pressure,” Esfandiari said. “I’ve been there before and I know what it’s like, so that might have some sort of effect.”

Three other past winners at the series began play on Tuesday but did not last. Prahlad Friedman was eliminated in 64th place to win $90,344, while 2007 World Series of Poker Player of the Year Tom Schneider busted in 52nd, winning $138,568. Blair Rodman busted out in 34th place, winning $253,941.

The remaining 27 players – having lasted through seven sessions to be the last among a starting field of 6,494 players – were guaranteed at least $352,832 each.

The final table of nine players will be determined today or early Thursday, with each winning at least $1.26 million.