Defending champ Eastgate still alive in World Series of Poker

The World Series of Poker’s most successful player has been eliminated from the 2009 main event. But defending champion Peter Eastgate and several other notable names were still alive during play today.

Phil Hellmuth, who owns a record 11 World Series of Poker individual event champions bracelets, was knocked out the $10,000 buy-in no-limit hold’em world championship main event on Saturday.

Hellmuth, who won the main event in 1989, earned $25,007 for cashing in 436th place. Last year, Hellmuth placed 45th in the main event and won $154,400.

The field of 6,494 players began the main event on July 3. A little more than 400 players began play Sunday at the Rio with the field expected to be sliced to 175.

The final table of nine is expected to be reached sometime Wednesday. The nine players will return to the Rio in November to play for the title.