Day 6 of the 2008 World Series of Poker in Las Vegas proved a tough one for the biggest names remaining in the field.  The action began at noon yesterday (July 13) and 79 players were cut to 27 as the field preps to be cut to the illustrious final table.  As of yesterday, all but a few of the big names have been bounced from the field, including Phil Hellmuth (45th place–$154,401), Kido Pham (41st place–$154,400), and Mike Matusow (30th place–$193,000).  The elimination of Hellmuth meant that all former champions had been elminated from competition. Ironically, Hellmuth was holding AQ for the fourth straight year as he was dealt his last hand.   Note to Phil: maybe you should avoid AQ next year, just a thought.

Despite these eliminations, there is one STAR left, albeit not neccessarily for her poker prowess, as of yet.  Tiffany Michelle, actress and now professional poker player, is the last remaining woman left in the field, and quite a popular one at that.  Michelle kept things consistent on day 6 finishing one spot higher on the leader board than where she started.  Michelle has 9,755,000 chips and currently sits in third place. If in fact Michelle can “sit pretty” and make the final table by the end of tomorrow, she will be the first women to make the main event final table since 1995, and only the second ever, joining Barbara Enright.

Brandon Cantu, most of yesterday livin large at the top of the leader board with over 10 million in chips.  He took this total into the dinner break, but the post-dinner phase of the tournament was tough on the always aggressive Cantu, and he ended with 4,740,000.  Dennis Phillips ended the day as your chip leader, collecting 11,910,000 in chips.

The final 27, currently playing, should show a significant slow-down in the action as the players are on what is likely the most important final-table bubble in the history of poker.  There is an insaine amount of money, publicity, and endoresments on the line for these players that far exceeds anything we’ve seen in the past.  The final nine players will wait until November 9th to battle it out, with the final two advancing to a heads up match to be held November 10th.  Good luck to all the participants, there is alot on the line!