Gold out at WSOP; Hellmuth, three other still alive

Two former champions were eliminated during Sunday’s third day of the first round of the main event at the 40th World Series of Poker at the Rio.

2006 champion Jamie Gold, who holds the record for the largest single-event jackpot -- $12 million -- and 1983 champion Tom McEvoy both busted out after paying the $10,000 entry for the no-limit hold’em event.

Meanwhile, four other former champions who played Sunday, Phil Hellmuth (1989), Dan Harrington (1995), Scotty Nguyen (1998), and Joe Hachem (2005), survived play Sunday and will take part in day two.

The third day of the four-day opening round attracted 1,696 entries. Previous days attracted 1,116 and 873 players. This means 3,685 players have now played in the Main Event with Monday still to come.

The combined field size of the Main Event has made it necessary for four starting days.

Hellmuth, the 11-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner, entered the Rio dressed as Roman Emperor Julius Caesar. Hellmuth was carted into the Rio while sprawled out across a special platform carried by several centurions. Last year, Hellmuth made his grand entrance dressed as Gen. George S. Patton, rolling into the Rio parking lot atop an army tank.

The stunts are used a promotional vehicles for his online poker sponsorship.

Last year’s third-place finisher, Dennis Phillips, also played Sunday, He arrived at the Rio with about 40 supporters who were adorned in the unofficial uniform of “Team Phillips” -- blue jeans, white oxford button-down shirts with logos and St. Louis Cardinals baseball caps.

The crowd stayed most of the day, cheering Phillips when he won a big hand. He finished in the middle of that pack and will move on to day two.