Bubble bursts at the Main Event; 337 left in hunt for $8.25 million

The bubble burst at the Main Event of the World Series of Poker last night, and 284 players finished the day with at least $20,320 in winnings. The remaining 337 players are eying the $8.25 million first-place prize as play resumes today at noon PST for Day 4.

Rome's Dario Minieri, who won €125,780 in a European Poker Tour event last October, will start the day with a healthy chip lead, holding $2.4 million. Jeff Weiss of Florida is second with just over $1.5 million.

Kenny Tran, who was fifth in the $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. event, sits in fifth with nearly $1.2 million.

Five former winners are still in the field, including: Huck Seed (1996, $544,000); Robert Varkonyi (2002, $424,000); Scotty Nguyen (1998, $321,000); Carlos Mortensen (2001, $284,000); and Berry Johnston (1986, $203,000).

Other notable players still in contention include: Gus Hansen ($1.0 million); Isaac Haxton ($791,000); Kirk Morrison ($772,000); Bart Hanson ($738,000); Lee Watkinson ($737,000); Bill Edler ($673,000); Julian Gardner ($471,000); Chad Brown ($454,000); Jason Lester ($439,000); John Spadavecchia ($402,000); Alexander Kravchenko ($371,000); Thor Hansen ($342,000); Daniel Alaei ($299,000); Humberto Brenes ($210,000); Mimi Tran ($144,000); Tobey Maguire ($131,000); Hasan Habib ($127,000); and Billy Baxter ($105,000).