Players go to hand for hand play World Series of Poker as money bubble approaches

Players go to hand for hand play at poker series

LAS VEGAS — Players at the World Series of Poker have gone to hand-for-hand play as the bubble approaches for the money finishers.

Players needed 141 to be eliminated before they would reach the prize money in the no-limit Texas Hold ‘em tournament on Saturday.

Tournament officials halted play and forced each table to play one hand at a time, waiting for the next hand until all tables had finished.

The top 10 percent of the field of 6,494 players — 648 players in all — were to win some piece of a $61 million prize pool.

Top prize in the tournament is $8.55 million, while 648th gets $21,365.