World Series of Poker: Seasoned Pro Still Alive

LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- Former Hollywood agent Jamie Gold will have $13 million in tournament chips and a commanding lead in the World Series of Poker championship event when play resumes at noon today, but Allen Cunningham hopes the experience he's gained by winning four impressive pieces of jewelry will work in his favor.

Cunningham, a one-time civil engineering student from UCLA who left school to embark on a professional poker career, might be the most recognized player left in the $10,000 no-limit Texas hold 'em event.

The field, originally a record 8,773 players, was cut from 45 to 27 Monday after only five hours of play at the Rio. By tonight or early Wednesday morning, 18 more players will be eliminated, leaving only the nine-player final table.

After what tournament officials called an unscheduled but much-needed day off, the final table will be played Thursday.

Cunningham, 29, who ended play Monday in 13th place with more than $2.6 million in tournament chips, hopes to have a seat among the final nine.

"I've just got to make sure to keep my head in the game and not give too many interviews," said Cunningham, winner of four World Series gold and diamond bracelets that signify his individual titles.

Cunningham's fourth victory came during this year's event in a $1,000-entry, multiple-rebuy event from July 8-10. That was worth $625,830.

If he wins bracelet No. 5 on Thursday, it would come with a payday of $12 million.

"You have to think the same thing as any other tournament, but you have to keep it going a lot longer and not fall apart," Cunningham said of the championship event, which began July 28. "Some people, after playing for several days, they crack and they fall apart or something like that. You just have to make sure you stay on the whole way."

Cunningham, who lives in Las Vegas, won World Series bracelets in 2001, 2002 and last year, capturing a no-limit hold 'em event. He reached three final tables in last year's event, helping him earn a player of the year title from ESPN and Toyota. He also won a World Series Circuit event in April at Caesars Palace.

Cunningham is one of the team players for the Full Tilt Poker Internet site. Playing online has given him insight into his championship event competition, many of whom won seats via poker Web sites.

"I've played all types of players, so nothing really surprises me," Cunningham said. "I just try to play each guy the way you have to play them."

Longtime poker observers like Cunningham's chances this week. But they realize that nowadays it takes a combination of luck and skill for a professional player to win poker's signature event because of the large field, 10 times the size it was just three year ago.

"I personally am not convinced the professionals are that far ahead from all the other players out there," said World Series media director Nolan Dalla, co-author of a biography on the late poker standout Stu Ungar.

"There is so much information and so many teaching tools, that the level of play is strong and players have the information they need to defeat the top professionals," Dalla said.

With a tournament prize pool of $82.5 million up for grabs, chip stack totals are at seemingly unheard-of figures.

Gold, a 36-year-old Malibu, Calif., resident, led for the second straight day. He entered Monday with $7.3 million in chips and nearly doubled his stack before play ended at 5 p.m. Erik Friberg, a 23-year-old from Sweden, was second with $7.7 million.

David Einhorn, a 37-year-old hedge fund manager from New York, is third with $6.9 million after winning a three-way all-in pot.

The fast play and quick eliminations have allowed tournament officials to schedule an off day Wednesday.

The break will allow the final nine players to bring family and friends in for poker's biggest event.

"It's critical for the players to be able to rest and relax before what will be the biggest days of their lives," Dalla said.

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