updated 9:33 p.m. ET Aug. 1, 2006

LAS VEGAS - Chris “Jesus” Ferguson put his tournament on the line twice Tuesday, both times catching miracle cards at the World Series of Poker and turning a below-average stack into more than enough chips to remain a contender in the main event.

In a feisty exchange, the poker pro raised and re-raised his way into a massive pot holding pocket kings, with the board showing a harmless-looking queen, five and four.

Opponent Robert Ozeran, a 21-year-old student from the University of Southern California, held a queen and five, giving him the dominant two pair. When the betting was done, Ferguson’s 40,000 in chips were all-in.

A jack fell, then a four, pairing the board and giving Ferguson the unlikely best hand of kings and fours.

Ozeran, whose stack had been cut to nearly nothing, had a meltdown.

“At least I can say Jesus Ferguson sucked me out,” Ozeran said.

“Get in line,” Ferguson joked, having doubled up to about 84,000 chips. Earlier, Ferguson also doubled up to about 40,000 as he paired his ace on a river card to beat a lower pair.

WORLD SERIES OF POKER BLOG I'll miss the World Series of Poker Know how to hold 'em: Tips and terms

After about three hours of play on Day 5 of the world’s largest poker tournament, 1,085 of the 1,637 players who played Tuesday remained in the hunt for a top prize of more than $11.5 million.

On Wednesday, a second group of 1,736 was to play down. The survivors from Tuesday and Wednesday will be combined into single field Friday. The final table gets under way Aug. 10.

“I’ve been all-in with the worst hand and won both times,” said Ferguson, who won the World Series main event in 2000. “I’m willing to get my money in on a coin flip.” Both times, he acknowledged, his odds were worse than 50-50.

Ranking of poker hands — Royal flush: The highest hand consisting of ace, king, queen, jack and ten -- all of the same suit. — Straight flush: Five cards in sequence and of the same suit. — Four of a kind: Four cards of the same rank, such as four kings. — Full house: Three cards of one rank and two of another, such as three kings and two eights. — Flush: Five cards all of the same suit. — Straight: Five non-suited cards in sequence, such as 3-4-5-6-7. — Three of a kind: Three cards of the same rank. — Two pairs: Two separate pairs, such as two kings and two eights. — Pair: Two cards of equal rank. — High card: The highest-ranking card in your hand. Source: MSNBC research

The chip leader by the afternoon was James Crowshaw with 231,000. Other names on the leader board were Ken Jacobs, son of poker pro Tom Jacobs, with 186,000, Daniel Alaei with 110,000 and Allen Cunningham with 107,000.

Pros Men “The Master” Nguyen, Eric Froehlich, Barry Greenstein, John Juanda, Andrew Black and David Williams were knocked out.

Michael Pino, a retired 59-year-old from New York, clung to hope and 21,000 in chips after knocking Greenstein out by calling Greenstein’s all-in bet for 1,175 in chips with a king and nine. Pino held an ace and a 10, which created a pair when an ace appeared on the flop.

As is his practice, Greenstein signed a copy of his book and wrote down the hand that beat him before giving it to Pino and walking out.

Slide show   Week in Sports Pictures Pain on the skating rink, flying high on the hardwood, upsets on the football field, and more. more photos

“It’s nice that I won the hand,” Pino said. “As far as knocking him out personally, he’s a gentleman and a very nice guy. I sort of feel bad about it, to be honest.”

MORE FROM OTHER SPORTS

Other sports Section Front

Horse industry closely watches Dubai debt crisis Horse races to return to Fla.'s historic Hialeah Las Vegas tops Florida to win UFL championship Canadian buyer wants multiple sports at Silverdome   Traditions in sports TD! Run by player with Down Syndrome touches fans Astana cycling team on the brink after new demands 3 Conn. athletes accused of sex assault conspiracy Autopsy set for boxer who died after Philly bout   Slideshow: Top 20 fighters in the world Other sports Section Front   Add Other sports headlines to your news reader: