W.S.O.P 2009 Main Event Final Table 2day (Warning: Spoilers Inside)

The November Nine

Just after dinner time on the evening of July 15th, ten patched-up poker players huddled around the last table left in the vacant expanse of the Amazon Room for the most important card game of their lives. Under the bright lights of the ESPN cameras, the eyes of the poker world were upon them.

Less than an hour into ten-handed action, Jordan Smith peeked down at two red aces in the hole -- a beautiful sight deep in any major tournament, let alone the Main Event of the World Series of Poker. Smith and chip leader Darvin Moon went to war in a heads-up battle that culminated in the final betting actions of the night. On an eight-high flop, Moon put out a bet of 4 million chips, and Smith check-raised all in with the overpair. The soft-spoken logger from the hills of Maryland quickly made the call as the throng of spectators jockeyed for position along the rail for the monumental showdown.

Moon had been running hot for several days, and he turned over two red eights for top set. A gutted Smith was drawing thin for his survival, and a blank apiece on the turn and river sealed his demise and sent a wave of celebration coursing through the arena.

We had found our November Nine.

*********

Fast forward three months and twenty-three days, and you'll find the Rio once again buzzing with anticipation. Just those nine players are left alive from a field that began with 6,494, and there's life-changing money on the line. Hundreds of interviews and a few lucrative sponsorship deals later, the finalists are back in Las Vegas and ready for the final battle. Here's how they'll stack up when the cards go into the air after this extended hiatus:

Seat 1: Darvin Moon (58,930,000)
Seat 2: James Akenhead (6,800,000)
Seat 3: Phil Ivey: (9,765,000)
Seat 4: Kevin Schaffel (12,390,000)
Seat 5: Steven Begleiter: (29,885,000)
Seat 6: Eric Buchman (34,800,000)
Seat 7: Joseph Cada (13,215,000)
Seat 8: Antoine Saout (9,500,000)
Seat 9: Jeff Shulman (19,580,000)

The counts don't lie; Darvin Moon is lapping the field with more than 30% of the total chips in play. Alongside him we've got a Wall Street investor (Begleiter) and an engineering student from France (Saout), a printing entrepreneur (Schaffel) and a baby-faced online grinder (Cada). Pros? We've got those too. Buchman has been a consistent performer in the live tournament poker scene with more than 20 cashes in his blossoming career. Akenhead is a standout on the European circuit and a consistent WSOP performer. As the only man with Main Event final table experience, Shulman has been making waves with his criticism of the WSOP despite his impressive stat line in its events. And then there's Phil Ivey. What really needs to be said? More than $12 million in career winnings and seven gold bracelets (including three this year). Looking to become the youngest player to collect eight WSOP titles, Ivey occupies the top spot on most people's handicapping sheets and is the odds-on betting favorite at your weekly home game. It's shaping up to be one of the most exciting Main Event final tables in history.

The World Series of Poker is just about ready to turn off the lights on its 40th birthday party, but we've still got to cut the cake. The 2009 edition of the November Nine is set to take to the felt tomorrow (Saturday) at high noon

Live Reporting | 2009 WSOP Main Event - The Final Table | November Nine Final Table | PokerNews

Ivey Interview
All eyes on Ivey: The legend speaks - Poker News

Anyone know if this is being broadcasted on tv or I-net?

Chipcount after 3 hours:

Darvin Moon - 49,495,000
Eric Buchman - 35,135,000
Steven Begleiter - 24,820,000
Antoine Saout - 21,960,000
Joseph Cada - 16,635,000
Jeff Shulman - 14,780,000
James Akenhead - 12,515,000
Phil Ivey - 10,565,000
Kevin Schaffel - 8,960,000

Phil Ivey FTW!!!!!!!!!!

	1 - 1	STRK: 1 l in a row	WIN PCT: 50%	# 303 (-48)
Career: | Aug 09: 258-154, Rank #26 | Aug 08: 800-524, Rank #13 *

gotta support hometowns darvin moon

should be real interesting on tues

	1 - 1	STRK: 1 l in a row	WIN PCT: 50%	# 298 (-32)
Career: | Aug 08: 145-84, Rank #68 *

Darvin's first WSOP. He plays like a pro though.

any link to watch live? or where can i track the stats online?

	13 - 4	STRK: 5 w in a row	WIN PCT: 76%	# 87 (0)
Career: | Aug 09: 11-8, Rank #180 | Aug 08: 16-14, Rank #565 *

hes a saints fan

	13 - 4	STRK: 5 w in a row	WIN PCT: 76%	# 87 (0)
Career: | Aug 09: 11-8, Rank #180 | Aug 08: 16-14, Rank #565 *

Still searching myself for an online feed but no succes. You can follow the it on

Live Reporting | 2009 WSOP Main Event - The Final Table | November Nine Final Table | PokerNews

Its only text but at least its something

good looks, ya its better than nothing.

	13 - 4	STRK: 5 w in a row	WIN PCT: 76%	# 87 (0)
Career: | Aug 09: 11-8, Rank #180 | Aug 08: 16-14, Rank #565 *

i dont care about his team affiliation. Read a news story about him today in the wash post talking about after winning the million dollars he declined to take a limo to the airport cause he had already paid the 7 dollars for the airport shuttle.

	1 - 1	STRK: 1 l in a row	WIN PCT: 50%	# 298 (-32)
Career: | Aug 08: 145-84, Rank #68 *

ya i've been following that live update, i want my boy ivey to make a move at least get over 15mil or so, and then make some noise.

	278 - 124	STRK: 2 w in a row	WIN PCT: 69%	# 9 (-2)
Career: | Aug 09: 813-322, Rank #3 | Aug 08: 1076-393, Rank #3 *

if phil can double thru hes gonna be serious trouble.

	13 - 4	STRK: 5 w in a row	WIN PCT: 76%	# 87 (0)
Career: | Aug 09: 11-8, Rank #180 | Aug 08: 16-14, Rank #565 *

thats what im hoping man, the highest i seen him at was like 12.5. o s**t he at 12.1 right now, it would be so sick to see him win this s**t. he is owed some breaks after moneymaker sucked out on him to get to the final table.

	278 - 124	STRK: 2 w in a row	WIN PCT: 69%	# 9 (-2)
Career: | Aug 09: 813-322, Rank #3 | Aug 08: 1076-393, Rank #3 *

go phil!

Phil also has the advantage that he doenst have to think about the money that much. Other might fold because they think about the millions, Phil already got those so he might be able to profit from that

First player is Elimanted, James Akenhead.

It took 52 hands last year to bust the first player. James Akenhead just went out on the 59th hand of play. With a slightly more flat pay structure, the hopes of speeding up play haven't been met yet. The jump into an 8th-place pay slot if only slightly over $36,000 -- much, much smaller than the nearly $400,000 jump last year.

Everyone is now guaranteed $1,300,231. The next jump is nearly $105,000 and is much more of a prominent thought in the players' minds now.


Only a $36.000 payjump for the next place

thats the key to his game....and it kind of leaves the other players off balance......Phils a tough read....I could sit across from him

	1 - 1	STRK: 1 l in a row	WIN PCT: 50%	# 303 (-48)
Career: | Aug 09: 258-154, Rank #26 | Aug 08: 800-524, Rank #13 *

aces against kings, quad kings smh thats sick

buchman in a good spot now almost 50

	278 - 124	STRK: 2 w in a row	WIN PCT: 69%	# 9 (-2)
Career: | Aug 09: 813-322, Rank #3 | Aug 08: 1076-393, Rank #3 *

and get destroyed!

8th player just eliminated!

	13 - 4	STRK: 5 w in a row	WIN PCT: 76%	# 87 (0)
Career: | Aug 09: 11-8, Rank #180 | Aug 08: 16-14, Rank #565 *

Thats a f**ked op way to get eliminated, i would be pretty sick