Who Will Be The Top Dog at WSOP?

That is the question on everyone's mind as the 2005 World Series of Poker enters its third round with only 272 top poker players remaining.

Of the over 5600 entrants who entered the esteemed Las Vegas held tournament at a buy-in of $10 000 each, most walked away with nothing as only the last 560 players qualify for cash prizes.

However, for those players whose luck and skill saw them survive the first four gruelling days, the big prize is still very much on the horizon as they continue to battle it out in no-limit Texas Hold 'em poker.

Their objective is a common one - to make to the final table of nine players and beat out the opposition to walk away the winner of the 2005 tournament and $7.5 million richer.

The current chip leader is Las Vegas resident, Rod Pardey Jr who is sitting on just over $700 000 in chips. Still in the picture is the resilient Greg 'Fossilman' Raymer, who won last year's WSOP. His stack is about $700 000. 1994 WSOP victor, Russ Hamilton, is also still in the running.

Other big poker names remaining in the field include Howard Lederer, Phil Ivey, John Juanda, Mike Matusow, Layne Flack and Paul Darden.

Eric Madsen is the owner of http://www.whynotvegas.com