LAS VEGAS — The World Series of Poker main event will have a new title winner this year.

Just two gold bracelet winners remained in a field of 29 players after six hours of play on Tuesday, each having won tournaments at the series other than its $10,000 buy in no-limit Texas Hold 'em main event.

Last year's champion Peter Eastgate was eliminated late Monday in 78th place, winning $68,979. He and 2005 champion Joe Hachem were the last remaining former champions in the tournament. Hachem busted in 103rd place.

Still competing were seven-time gold bracelet winner Phil Ivey and Antonio Esfandiari, who won a pot-limit Hold 'em bracelet in 2004.

Esfandiari, who started the day sixth in chips with 5.6 million, said he didn't think his pot-limit Hold 'em win from 2004 would necessarily set him apart from his competitors, but said it could give him a small leg up as they battle on poker's biggest stage.

"It's just having experience in a late stage tournament where first place is so valuable — a lot of people crack under that pressure," Esfandiari told The Associated Press. "I've been there before and I know what it's like, so that might have some sort of effect."

Esfandiari was down to 3.53 million chips after two hours, and fell below 3 million chips after six hours.

He said play began to slow from a breakneck pace seen the last few days that have resulted in many eliminations on dicey gambles.

"People are being a little more careful, I think," Esfandiari. "I tried to do a few things that didn't work out and so I've kind of put the brakes on. It's not that people are (raising) me a lot I just ran into some hands."

Ivey started the day third in chips with 6.3 million and continued his surge, heading to the dinner break after six hours of play with 12.2 million chips, second in the tournament.

Three other past winners at the series began play on Tuesday but did not last. Prahlad Friedman was eliminated in 64th place to win $90,344, while 2007 World Series of Poker Player of the Year Tom Schneider busted in 52nd, winning $138,568. Blair Rodman busted out in 34th place, winning $253,941.

Schneider's and Ivey's supporters were among the most vocal on Tuesday as 64 players took to the felt expecting to play down to the last three tables.

The remaining 27 players— having lasted through seven sessions to be the last among a starting field of 6,494 players — were guaranteed at least $352,832 each.

The final table will be determined on Wednesday or early Thursday, with each of the last nine players remaining winning at least $1.26 million. Top prize in the tournament is $8.55 million.