The $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. tournament at the WSOP is a special event. Although the World Champion is crowned in the Main Event, many regard the H.O.R.S.E. event as a truer test of poker playing ability.

Not only do the players have to plunk down $50,000 to compete they also have to play a variety games against the best players in the world.

It used to be that the $10,000 Main Event brought out the best poker players in the world because of the relatively steep buy-in but these days the once prestigious tournament is, for better or worse, an event that anybody can win.

With the $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. event kicking off on Wednesday now seems like a good time to showcase some of the players that could go deep in the most prestigious event of poker.

Ever hear of Phil Ivey?

Phil Ivey

Is there a better big-game poker player in the world? Seems doubtful as Phil Ivey regularly crushes high stakes poker of any form. He'll mix it up with all those internet young guns that are supposed to be taking over the world while playing against the regulars at the Big Game at Bellagio.

Ivey plays stakes other players only dream of and he's one of the few players that can be fearless with $50,000 on the line.

As if that wasn't enough to make him a threat Ivey has experience in this event. He finished third in the 2006 edition, which included a final table consisting of players like Doyle Brunson and Andy Bloch.

Ivey is absolutely a threat to win this year's edition.

Even at his age T.J. Cloutier has the ability to knock a player out.

T.J. Cloutier

T.J. Cloutier is a veteran's veteran. He's been there before and he will likely be there again. In his career Cloutier has been playing and winning at poker since before many of the current crop of card sharks were even born.

Cloutier has six WSOP bracelets in a variety of games and can mix it up with the best of them. People keep counting Cloutier out because of his age but Cloutier keeps winning poker tournaments. Just last fall Cloutier won the Scotty Nguyen Poker Challenge Main Event for $240,560.

In addition Cloutier is another player that has been there before. Cloutier made the final table of the 2006 WSOP $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. event which consistently ranks as one of the greatest final tables of all time.

She's definitely not harmless.

Jennifer Harman

Jennifer Harman is without fear.

She continually plays at the highest stakes imaginable in poker and routinely walks away in the green. Harman was part of the legendary games between the "Corporation" and billionaire banker Andy Beal that some of the biggest pots in poker and performed very well.

Historically Harman has succeeded at mixed game events. She was runner-up in the inaugural WSOPE H.O.R.S.E. event and has bracelets in Limit and 2-7 lowball. She also came in eighth at this year's $3,000 H.O.R.S.E. event.

Harman may not be the most intimidating looking player in the world but she can be your worst nightmare at the poker table.

Eric Seidel is no fish.

Erik Seidel

It's time someone just came out and said it: Erik Seidel is one of the greatest mixed game tournament players in the world.

Seidel currently owns eight bracelets and is always a threat to win more. He won the last tournament before the Main Event last year and hasn't looked back since. Seidel finished runner-up at the Aussie Millions and won a WPT title as well.

Although historically Seidel has been weak on the seven-card stud side of things he's not exactly Phil Hellmuth either. He recently came in fifth in the $10,000 World Championship Stud event.

It seems like it is also about time for Seidel not too be underrated in an event for a change.

The Poker Professor is looking to school some unprepared players at the H.O.R.S.E. event.

Howard Lederer

Howard Lederer seems to play his best poker against the best players.

Earlier this year Lederer won the only event that has a higher buy-in than the WSOP H.O.R.S.E. We're talking about the $100,000 buy-in No-Limit Event at the Aussie Millions. Lederer overcame players like Erick Lindgren and Jeffrey Lisandro to take down a total of $1.09 million.

In an interview with PL.com Lederer mentioned he wanted to focus more on playing poker this year than commentating and it seems to have done wonders for his playing career.

Lederer has already made one final table and cashed three times at the 2008 WSOP so it seems that he's on the verge of something big.

Already a mixed game specialist it feels in many ways like Lederer has something to prove this year. Pity the players that stand in his way.