The 2009 WPT Championship began to take shape inside the Bellagio’s Fontana Lounge Tuesday as they played from 162 players down to 62.

When they hit the felt again at 12 p.m. PT Wednesday, Steve Billirakis, who holds the distinction as the youngest WSOP bracelet winner in history, will come in with the chip lead.

Billirakis went deep here last year, but told PokerListings there’s really no secret to his success at the WPT Championship.

“I’m just trying to play tight and play it like a cash game,” he said. “The structure is so good here and there is so much play that I’m just trying to stay tight.”

Outside of playing solid poker, Billirakis, who took down the WSOP Circuit event in Hammond, Indiana this past November, has very few designs heading into Day 4.

“I’m going to wait until I see my table before I start making any plans,” he said. “I’m going to keep playing tight until there are maybe two tables left and then I’ll start to open it up.

“There’s no reason to do anything crazy because there are still so many chips to play with.”

A virtual murderer’s row sits within striking distance of Billirakis, including no less than Freddy Deeb, Mark Seif, David Singer, Nenad Medic, Nick Binger and the most feared player in the game, Phil Ivey.

However, the biggest surprise left in the field would have to be tennis legend Boris Becker, who has a strange simiilarity to Billirakis in that he is the youngest Wimbledon champion in tennis history.
Becker seems to be proving he has what it takes to hang with poker’s big boys here in Las Vegas.

“Well I’ve played with a couple of them this week,” Becker told PokerListings. “I wouldn’t say hang, but so far so good.”

A PokerStars Ambassador, Becker started playing high-stakes poker tournaments at the EPT Grand Final one year ago and although he’s a little short on chips here at the Championship, it appears things are starting to click.

“I’m certainly gaining experience and feeling a lot more comfortable, but this is the first time making it to the fourth day of a big tournament,” the six-time Grand Slam titleist said.

“I’m just trying to hold on until we get into the money. Twelve more spots.”

A more than $2 million first prize hangs in the balance at the WPT Championship and play should reach the 50 player money bubble early Wednesday.