The hope for the exclusive member PGA-like Epic Poker League $20,000 main event was to ensure star power at all their televised final tables to maximize ratings. EPL executives must be smiling happily to themselves that the first EPL final table at the Palms Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada will include popular poker pros Jason Mercier, Eric Seidel, Gavin Smith, Huck Seed and established pros Hasan Habib and Chino Rheem.

Sam Trickett came into the day as the chip leader with over 1,000,000 in chips, but ran into a series of tough hands and was eliminated in 11th place for $49,360.

Two of the hottest players in poker this year, Erik Seidel and Jason Mercier, made the final table and one or both are poised to pass Sam Trickett came into the day as the chip leader, and only player over 1,000,000 in chips, but was unable to duplicate his results of the first two days. After a series of tough hands, the UK pro was eliminated in 11th place for $49,360. on the Global Poker Index as the best tournament player in the world.

The final table bubble boy was Adam "Roothlus" Levy who went out in a tough hand against Chino Rheem when Levy had Q's and Rheem had K's and the money went in pre-flop. A queen came on the flop to give Levy hope, only to have a four outer arrive on the river to send Levy to the rail.

Play resumes on Friday at 2pm at The Palms.

Seat 1: Hasan Habib - 1,655,000
Seat 2: Erik Seidel - 1,109,000
Seat 3: Chino Rheem - 1,432,000
Seat 4: Gavin Smith - 766,000
Seat 5: Jason Mercier - 1,495,000
Seat 6: Huck Seed - 396,000

Final Table payouts are as follows:

1st $1,000,000
2nd $604,330
3rd $360,970
4th $237,560
5th $154,260
6th $107,980