DON McDERMOTT / PVT Three players were among Pahrump representatives in two World Series of Poker tournaments played over the last few days at the Rio All-Suites Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. They included Rollie Batayola, above ... DON McDERMOTT / PVT Carolyn Hopkins and ... DON McDERMOTT / PVT Hoppy Hopkins. Advertisement

LAS VEGAS -- The prize pool was $3,791,970 and there were 2,778 players in pursuit of that cash in Event 38, a $1,500-buy-in no-limit Texas hold'em tournament at the World Series of Poker.

Rollie Batayola was representing Pahrump in one of the richest no-limit tournaments played this season in the 38th annual WSOP at the Rio All-Suites Hotel-Casino.

He gave one of the strongest performances by any Pahrump player thus far in 2007, finishing 380th, which means he outlasted 2,398 opponents in the tournament, which ended Monday with Robert Cheung winning and pocketing $673,628.

"On the hand I busted out on, I had pocket 4s," said Batayola, who earned his seat by finishing in the top six in a free-roll tournament contested in February at the Pahrump Nugget. "I had $3,000 in chips left, and the blinds were $400-$800, with a $100 ante. So I decided to go all in. I was up against ace-jack. The flop was 6-8-2 and the turn was a 3. But an ace on the river killed me."

The tournament started at noon Saturday and Batayola eliminated at 10:35 p.m.

Rob Lisull, another Pahrump Nugget WSOP free-roll qualifier, is slated to play Saturday in another $1,500 buy-in no-limit tournament.

On Monday, Hoppy and Carolyn Hopkins of Pahrump played in the Seniors Championship, a $1,000 buy-in no-limit tournament.

The event drew such highly-regarded players as Al Krux, who made the final table in the $10,000 championship tournament in 2004; Miami John Cernuto; Barbara Enright (the only woman ever to make the final table in the championship event); Tom McEvoy; Vince Burgio, and Shirley Williams, the mother of David Williams, the 2004 runnerup in the main event.

The Hopkins, who were among 1,882 players in the tournament, did not survive Day One, which featured fast and furious action and led to rapid eliminations. The tournament ends today.

The leader going into Tuesday's round was Terry Fueischer, who had $113,500 in chips. Former Seniors champion Tom McCormack had $99,700. Amarillo Slim Preston, whose success and personality helped lead the WSOP to prominence, was sixth with $56,100. McEvoy had $37,800 and Burgio $13,000.

The premiere event of the 38th WSOP, the $50,000 buy-in H.O.R.S.E. tournament, started Sunday, with 148 players generating a prize pool of $7,104,000.

After Day Two (of five), the chip leader was Gus Hansen with $641,000. Toto Leonidas was second at $621,000, and first-day chip leader Eli Elezra had $568,000.

Allen Cunningham had $549,000, while Mike Matusow and Phil Ivey had $456,000 each. Also in contention were Andy Bloch, 11-time WSOP bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth Jr., John Juanda, and Max Pescatori.

Chip Reese, who won the 2006 event, was down to $35,000 in chips Monday, but went into the third day with $332,000.

Going into Tuesday's action, 52 players remained, including Annie Duke ($165,000), Cyndi Violette ($60,000) and Isabelle Mercier ($41,000).

A huge crowd encircled the 20-table layout arranged for Day Two competition, which had some unique matchups for what is essentially, the All-Star Game of poker.

At one table were Robert Williamson III, Phil Ivey, Jason Lester, and David Singer. Scattered throughout the tables were Chris (Jesus) Ferguson, Greg Raymer, Cyndi Violette, Jennifer Harman, Scotty Nguyen, Mike Sexton, Daniel Negreanu, Juan Carlos Mortenson, and Huck Seed.

Ferguson, Williamson, Doyle Brunson, Gavin Smith, and Ted Forrest were eliminated.