Bodog Beat

Poker pro Chino Rheem is just one spot out of the lead going into Day 4 of the WPT Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic. (Bodog Beat Image)

The most cumbersomely-named event on the WPT calendar has been underway for the last three days and is now down to only 55 players, and there is plenty of star power left in the field, which could make for a nice fun holiday final table for us and a hell of a Christmas present for the winner.

The WPT Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic drew out 497 players, all who ponied up their $15,000 buy-in to generate a total prize pool of $7,231,350. The winner will walk away with a cool $1.5 million and an immediate list of people who will be expecting ridiculous holiday gifts. (If we write nice things, can we be on that list?).

Left fighting for that windfall are a laundry list of recognizable players, including Steve Sung, Nick Schulman, Hoyt Corkins, Amnon Filippi, Robert Mizrachi, David Benyamine, John Hennigan, Clonie Gowen, David Oppenheim, Allen Cunningham, Barry Greenstein, Andy Bloch, Mike Matusow, Tuan Le and Nam Le. But best situated of all of them is poker pro and 2008 WSOP "November Nine" member Chino Rheem, who is just 100k in chips behind current chip leader Evan McNiff.

Play resumes right about now at the Bellagio and will continue through another five blind levels. Doyle Brunson was at this event – he cashed – and it is a poker event that has quickly become a classic and features players from all over the world. At one point, in a previous incarnation, the Bellagio even had a spot in the title of the event. However, the "Five Diamond" part might be a little over the top. Just sayin'.

Stay tuned for more WPT updates from the Bodog Beat and don't forget to qualify online for the WPT with one of Bodog Poker's $12,000 Player's Choice packages.