LAS VEGAS -- Dario Minieri, who was among the chip leaders midway through the 2007 World Series of Poker but faded quickly, finally earned a gold bracelet.

Wednesday, in the $2,500 No-Limit Hold'em Six-Handed tournament, Minieri triumphed and earned $528,418 out of the prize pool of $2,327,600. A field of 1,012 players started the tournament Monday at the Rio All-Suites Hotel and Casino here.

Minieri, who debuted at the WSOP when he was barely 21 years old in 2006, cashed for the fourth time and now has $634,431 in tournament earnings.

The only other notable professional player at the final table was Kevin Song, who cashed in a WSOP event for the 22nd time and is approaching $1 million in career earnings. He finished fourth and earned $141,983.

The final table in the $5,000 7-card stud high-low split 8 or better started at 5 p.m. Thursday, after play overnight ended at 7 a.m.

Among the final eight were Chris Ferguson, Marcel Luske and Annie Duke. The prize pool was $1,226,700, generated by 261 entries.

Another 7-card stud tournament, with a $1,500 buy-in, started Wednesday with 381 entries and a $2,490,390 prize pool.

The $10,000 Omaha Hi-low split tournament is to start today.

And beginning Wednesday at noon is the $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. tournament, an event acknowledged as the WSOP All-Star Game. Players must have exceptional expertise in hold-em, Omaha hi-low, Razz (low ball stud), 7-card stud and stud eight or better. Chip Reese won the inaugural $50,000 title in 2006 in a stirring 12 1/2-hour duel with Andy Bloch in 2006, while Freddie Deeb overpowered the field in 2007.

Among the pre-tournament favorites is David Singer, who finished sixth in both the 2006 and 2007 tournaments and has already claimed a WSOP title this season. He earned $214,132 for winning a pot-limit hold-em tournament in the first week.