Two eliminations bring field down to 15 in the WSOP Main Event

Two quick eliminations at the ESPN feature table took out two Southern-based players in the World Series of Poker’s Main Event Tuesday.

Sam Barnhart of Little Rock, Ark., the current World Series of Poker’s National Circuit Champion, went out in 17th place. Meanwhile Ryan Lenaghan of New Orleans, who held the chip lead several times earlier this week in the $10,000 No limit Hold’em Main Event, busted out a few minutes later in 16th place.

Both players earned their biggest poker paydays ever, $378,796.

Barnhart, a 50-year-old software specialist and data analyst won the Circuit championship in May, earning $300,000. While pleased that he finished 17th in the Main Event’s field of 6,865 players, he still had visions of reaching the final table.

“That’s where everyone wants to be,” he said. “It was a real tough field.”

Lenaghan, 26, is originally from Mobile, Ala., and has been playing professional poker for roughly two years. A graduate of Louisiana State University, Lenaghan had recorded about $120,000 in World Series of Poker earning, most of which took place on the tournament’s Circuit events.

He led the field on Day 6, but felt his luck might have run out.

“I just couldn’t catch any cards the last few days,” he said.