The third day of the United States Poker Championship $10,000 main event has started, and the field is lead by two poker professionals who also happen to be friends.
With more than $350,000 chips, Gavin Smith leads the remaining 52 players. Jeff Madsen, who exploded onto the poker seen at the 2006 World Series of Poker, is close behind with $291,000.
Victor Ramdin starts the day seventh in chips with $146,600.
The USPC attracted 164 players, a drop off from last year's field of 261. The 2005 version attracted 225, and in 2004, 187 players played in it.
Some of the pros who showed up to play in the USPC were Bill Edler, Chris Reslock, Nick Schulman, and Alex Jacob, who won the event last year.
The final table of the event will take place Saturday. The winner will receive $606,000.