H.O.R.S.E. day three tournament notes

Last year, the second day of the $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. World Championship at the World Series of Poker lasted 19 hours. This year the tournament was expanded from three days to five days. It looks like four might have been the right number. Tournament officials stopped play yesterday when the field narrowed to 21 players after about eight hours on day three, including an hour and a half dinner break.

The tournament will play down to the final eight today. The players are in the middle of Level 44, playing $20,000-$40,000 Seven Card Stud. The average stack has about 18 big bets. Players will begin by completing that level today, starting at 2 p.m. PST.

If the average stack continues to be in the 18-20 big bet range, the tournament will only have to go another 10-12 half hour levels before a final table is determined.

ESPN was on hand to tape day three, including the hole cards of two tables. One group played at the ESPN featured table, while the other played in "The Sequestrium." The black drapes were taken down, however, and spectators could watch the game live.

The appearance of the cameras increased the activity of some players. Mike Matusow left his table on several occasions to needle Phil Hellmuth, and when Hellmuth had finally had enough, he said "Mike, if you want TV time, go back to your own table and be an idiot over there."

Barry Greenstein also commented on his son's (Joe Sebok) appearance to congratulate him as he raked in a big pot. "I don't see him for two days," he said. "It's funny how he shows up when the cameras arrive."

Phil Hellmuth, master of the obvious: "Barry's the type of player who when he wins (his chip stack goes up), and when he loses (his chip stack) goes down."

Hellmuth may be the best Hold'em player in the world, but he had trouble winning Hold'em pots yesterday. Hellmuth busted out in 24th.

Oh how quickly fortunes can change. With five tables remaining yesterday, Daniel Negreanu was scooping up every Razz and Stud pot, building a chip stack over $900,000 strong. He hit a broadway straight on fifth street in Stud and had David Singer all in with a set of nines. Singer, however, hit a full house on the river to stay alive, doubling up to about $250,000. Negreanu is now clinging to 19th place with just $149,000 chips, while Singer has more than $1 million chips and sits in fifth.

Singer may be the best Stud player in the world, and since three-fifths of the games in H.O.R.S.E. are stud-based, he has an excellent chance at making the final table for the second year in a row and could win it all.

Dewey Tomko is the only other player remaining who made last year's final table. Tomko is in 17th with $248,000 chips.

Greg Raymer is the only Main Event champ remaining in the field. Raymer has already made two Stud-based final tables this year. He sits in 13th with $504,000 chips.