Gaming Guru

Wolfe and Hellmuth leading WPT Championship

The contrast in styles between the calm European and the brash American couldn't be anymore apparent, but regardless of their differences, European Poker Tour Champion Roland de Wolfe and 10-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth are in the same position – atop the leader board.

Day two of the World Poker Tour championship was a busy one, with big names pros both busting and moving towards the championship final table. Wolfe leads the pack with 535,000 chips, but close on his heels is revved up Hellmuth.

Wolfe is known for his silent, but deadly approach to the game while Hellmuth has already lost $6,000 in boisterous proposition bets with Jamie Gold. While no lead is safe in a WPT event, these two have the experience to make a solid run for the $3.9 million.

Neither has been able to capture a WPT title in the tour's six-season history.

Still lurking in the top fifteen is Cinderella herself - Anna Wroblewski. The amateur who turned $300 into $330,000 in a Bellagio Five-Star Poker preliminary event is in 12th position with her magic number – a little more than $330,000 chips.

Wroblewski finished day one with the overall chip lead and has steadily amassed enough checks to be in contention for the big prize.

Also making moves towards another big score is 2006 WSOP Main Event runner-up Paul Wasicka. One of the brightest young stars in poker, Wasicka is in fifth position with 430,000 chips, looking to add another seven-figure score to the more than $6 million prize he won at the WSOP.

The remaining field is a who's who of poker. Still alive and betting are Patrik Antonius, Sammy Farha, Carlos Mortensen, Freddy Deeb, Chip Reese, Hoyt Corkins, Robert Mizrachi, J.C. Tran, Cliff Josephy, Scott Fischman, Erik Friberg, and Gold.

Those sent to the rail include defending WPT champion Joe Bartholdi, Doyle Brunson, Gus Hansen, Mike Matusow, Daniel Negreanu, Allen Cunningham, Joe Hachem, and Erick Lindgren.

Play begins today at noon PST with 214 players remaining. The final table is scheduled to begin Friday with the top three spots paying more than $1 million.