Today's format is referred to as a "second chance format" and sees each player start with 3,000 in chips. They then have the option to use a second bank of 3,000 chips at any time during the first three levels, regardless of the size of their chip stacks.
It allows the players the flexibility to start with a double stack of 6,000 or alternatively play aggressive early in the knowledge that they have a second chance up their sleeve if they bust out before the end of Level Three.