Written by Rich Swerbinsky

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The main event of the World Series of Poker was trimmed to the final nine players on Tuesday, setting up the final table for the richest poker tournament in the world. Among the names left are a Hollywood super agent that has been dominating this event from the get go, and a big name professional that has now ascended to second place. The action restarts tomorrow at 5 PM ET.

And then there were nine.

The richest poker tournament in the world was whittled down to the final nine players yesterday, who will make up the final table of the main event at The 2006 World Series of Poker.  The $10,000 dollar buy in no limit Texas Hold 'Em tournament started with more than 8,700 players this year.

The nine men will be competing for a combined 38 million dollars in prize money, with 12 million dollars going to the winner.  Here's the prize money break down for the remaining competitors, all of whom will instantly become incredibly wealthy, even if eliminated on the first hand when play resumes Thursday at 5 PM ET:

1st - $12,000,000
2nd - $6,102,499
3rd - $4,123,310
4th - $3,628,513
5th - $3,216,182
6th - $2,803,851
7th - $2,391,520
8th - $1,979,189
9th - $1,566,858

Still in first place is Hollywood super agent Jamie Gold, who has represented a long laundry list of some of Hollywood's most famous actors.  He has 25.6 million in chips, and a lead of about 8 million dollars over poker pro Allen Cunningham, who rallied hard on Tuesday to ascend to a 17.7 million dollar chip count.  Cunningham is the biggest name poker pro left, and his stellar play at the 2005 WSOP earned him the ESPN Player Of The Year honors.  Cunningham won his third bracelet last year, and made three final tables.  Here's the full chip counts:

Jamie Gold - 25.6 million
Allen Cunningham - 17.7 million
Richard Lee - 11.8 million
Erik Friberg - 9.6 million
Paul Wasicka - 7.9 million
Doug Kim - 6.8 million
Rhett Butler - 4.8 million
Michael Binger - 3.1 million
Dan Nassif - 2.6 million

After a day off today, the players get back at it tomorrow.  ESPN is actually showing live coverage of the final table this year via pay per view.  Details are available on their website.  Their coverage of all the events in the World Series Of Poker has already began, and are shown on Tuesday nights from 8-10 PM EST.  Their coverage of the main event does not begin until late September.