A look at the WSOP Main Event leaderboard entering the final day

By Case Keefer (contact)

Published Monday, July 16, 2012 | 2 a.m.

Updated Monday, July 16, 2012 | 10:26 a.m.

For the 11th straight year, someone other than a well-known professional will win poker’s world championship.

Day 6 of the 2012 World Series of Poker Main Event became doomsday for the notable players left in the field. Arguably the 15 biggest names busted out of the running for the $8.5 million first-place prize, as the number of hopefuls decreased from 97 to 27 after 14 hours of action.

Two-time bracelet winner Vanessa Selbst, last year’s ninth-place finisher Samuel Holden and WSOP Player of the Year hopeful David Baker were among Sunday’s casualties.

The 27 players left are all guaranteed $294,601. Today marks the final day of play for the summer, as the action will continue until nine players come forward to make up a final table that will reconvene in October.

Check below for an introduction to each of the final 27 players and stay tuned to lasvegassun.com for a live blog of Monday’s action beginning at 1.

Marc Ladouceur (15,875,000 chips)

From: Montreal, Previous WSOP earnings: $136,212

Daniel Strelitz (12,790,000 chips)

From: Torrance, Calif., Previous WSOP earnings: $8,823

Robert Salaburu (10,915,000 chips)

From: San Antonio, Texas, Previous WSOP earnings: $5,496

Russell Thomas (9,985,000 chips)

From: Wallingford, Pa., Previous WSOP earnings: $126,796

Elisabeth Hille (9,770,000 chips)

From: Bergen, Norway, Previous WSOP earnings: $0

Yuval Bronshtein (9,735,000 chips)

From: Charleston, S.C., Previous WSOP earnings: $435,658

Jamie Robbins (8,750,000 chips)

From: San Diego, Calif., Previous WSOP earnings: $998,905

Robert Corcione (8,745,000 chips)

From: Bellingham, Mass. Previous WSOP earnings: $0

Cylus Watson (8,500,000 chips)

From: Madbury, N.H., Previous WSOP earnings: $7,866

Jeremy Ausmus (8,300,000 chips)

From: Las Vegas, Previous WSOP earnings: $116,393

Scott Abrams (8,080,000 chips)

From: Las Vegas, Previous WSOP earnings: $54,352

Greg Merson (7,435,000 chips)

From: Laurel, Md., Previous WSOP earnings: $1,253,051 (one bracelet)

Jesse Sylvia (7,385,000 chips)

From: West Tisbury, Mass., Previous WSOP earnings: $7,244

Jacob Balsiger (7,330,000 chips)

From: Tempe, Ariz., Previous WSOP earnings: $3,531

Michael Esposito (7,045,000 chips)

From: Seaford, N.Y., Previous WSOP earnings: $47,275

Percy Mahatan (6,750,000 chips)

From: Derwood, Md., Previous WSOP earnings: $0

Jan Heitmann (6,390,000 chips)

From: Munich, Germany, Previous WSOP earnings: $38,459

Danny Wong (6,360,000 chips)

From: Las Vegas, Previous WSOP earnings: $527,075

David Balkin (6,330,000 chips)

From: Sydney, Australia, Previous WSOP earnings: $0

Gaelle Baumann (5,530,000 chips)

From: France, Previous WSOP earnings: $0

Roland Israelashvilli (5,525,000 chips)

From: New York, Previous WSOP earnings: $1,124,699

Steven Gee (4,830,000 chips)

From: Sacramento, Calif., Previous WSOP earnings: $477,901 (one bracelet)

Robert Buckenmayer (4,410,000 chips)

From: Poway, Calif., Previous WSOP earnings: $5,499

Andras Koroknai (3,125,000 chips)

From: Debrecen, Hungary Previous WSOP earnings: $39,371

Wilfred Haerig (2,665,000 chips)

From: Hamburg, Germany, Previous WSOP earnings: $81,485

Paul Volpe (2,650,000 chips)

From: West Chester, Pa., Previous WSOP earnings: $114,873

Nicco Maag (1,300,000 chips)

From: Karlsruhe, Germany, Previous WSOP earnings: $0

Case Keefer can be reached at 948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.