DON McDERMOTT / PVT The four-table Pahrump Nugget's poker room had its grand opening Saturday, where the former food court was located in the hotel-casino. Advertisement

LAS VEGAS -- After six days of play in a wild and wacky World Series of Poker, 808 players remained when the 38th annual tournament resumed Thursday.

Of those 808 who went into action at the Rio All-Suites Casino and Hotel, 621 will receive at least $20,000, but their ultimate goal is the winner's share -- $8.25 million -- out of a prize pool of $59,784,954.

Veteran professional Gus Hansen of Monaco was the chip leader with $622,300. Hevad Khan of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., was second at $592,500.

In the top five were Brent Sherbon, The Dalles, Ore., $549,300; Markus Gonsalves, San Diego, $512,400, and Robert Nehorayan, Los Angeles, $505,700.

Another top-flight pro, Bill Edler of Las Vegas, was seventh with $486,700, well ahead of actor Chad Brown, Los Angeles, $320,000; former Heads-Up champion Ted Forrest, Las Vegas, $268,200; Carlos Mortensen, Las Vegas, $254,700; Chip Jett, Las Vegas, $201,400, and Rolf Slotboom, Amsterdam, Netherlands, $199,100.

Also surviving through to Thursday:

J.C. Tran, Sacramento, $184,300;

2002 champion Robert Varkonyi, $182,700;

2000 WSOP winner Chris (Jesus) Ferguson, Pacific Palisades, Calif., $160,900;

Lee Watkinson, Vancouver, Wash., $160,600;

2007 bracelet winner Robert Mizrachi, $153,000;

2007 WSOP event winner Zak Alameddine, New York, $123,200;

Hans (Tuna) Lund, Dayton, Nev., $107,400;

Cliff Josephy, $100,000;

Humberto Brenes, Costa Rica, $94,700;

Todd Brunson, Las Vegas, $90,600;

Long-time Daniel Negreanu friend Kirk Morrison, $90,000;(Negreanu wasn't as fortunate, getting bounced Wednesday);

Gavin Smith, Las Vegas, $87,700;

Chris Gregorian, Armenia, $79,000;

Former WSOP champion Scotty Nguyen, $64,000;

2002 runnerup Julian Gardner, $54,400;

James Van Alstyne, Las Vegas, $43,000, and

John Hennigan, $36,000.

NOTES -- Quad 7s eliminated quad 3s when a river 7 hit the board Tuesday ... Play was averaging 12 hours a day through Days 1A-1D and 2A and 2B ... Phil Hellmuth Jr., an 11-time bracelet winner, crashed a promotional racing car Monday, then was knocked out of the tournament ... Daniel Negreanu was eliminated Wednesday, joining a long, long list of top-flight pros on the rail ... Monday will be an off-day, with the nine-player final table Tuesday. ... In Pahrump, the Nugget's new poker room had its official grand opening Saturday.