Main event field down to 1,765 players; Brunson among Wednesday’s eliminations

The remaining players from three fields of starting flights for the World Series of Poker’s Main Event will be merged into one group today at the Rio.

Day 3 in the $10,000 buy-in No Limit Hold’em World Championship starts at noon with 1,765 players who survived the opening rounds.

The starting field for the Main Event was 6,598, fifth largest in tournament history.

Following Wednesday’s Day 2C action, American gambler Michael Hack had the biggest chip stack, with roughly 457,000. However, French woman Gaelle Baumann will enter play today as the chip leader with 505,800 in chips.

On Wednesday, some of poker’s best-known names were eliminated from the event.

Phil Ivey, who reached five final tables at this year’s World Series of Poker in search of bracelet No. 9, was busted early in day.

Prior to the dinner break, 2012 Poker Players Championship winner Michael Mizrachi was eliminated, along with former Main Event Champions Jamie Gold (2006), Joe Cada (2009), and Tom McEvoy (1983).

Actor Jason Alexander of “Seinfeld” fame, sporting a 1970s style mustache, sideburns and toupee, was knocked out the competition. Alexander was wearing the “disguise” because he is in the middle of filming a movie.

Poker icon Doyle Brunson, a 10-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner, was also eliminated Wednesday. Players greeted Brunson with warm applause when it was announced he had been eliminated, recognizing his contributions to the game. Brunson said Sunday he was skipping the Main Event but later changed his mind.

However, surviving play Wednesday and returning to the Rio today with healthy chip stacks include “Big One for One Drop” winner Antonio Esfandiari, 2011 Player of the year Ben Lamb and 10-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner Johnny Chan.