LAS VEGAS (July 10) -- The World Series of Poker No-limit Texas Hold 'em World Championship heads into its second round today after a four-day first round eliminated about two-thirds of the original field of 6,358 players.  There are about 2,235 players left and that remaining field will play in two flights today and tomorrow.

The two Marylanders who went to Main Event final tables over the last two years made it into the second round.  Rhett Butler, the 2006 fifth-place finisher from Rockville, plays today.  Steve Dannenmann, the 2005 runner-up, plays tomorrow.

Here's the numbers on the WSOP so far:

*  6,358 players started the Main Event and about 2,235 are still left.

*  The winner will get $8.25 million and the total prize pool is about $59.8 million. 621 players will cash in.  The final table is July 17.

* Overall, there were 55 events since June 1 with a prize pool of about $159.8 million.  There were 54,288 players.

Bill Ordine is blogging from the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas.