WSOP Main Event: The Final Table About to Begin

October 30, 12:15 PMPoker ExaminerJay "WhoJedi" Newnum

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It has been nearly four months since the World Series of Poker Main Event reached its final nine players.  Since that time, the players have been on a break until play resumes in just over a week.  In that time, the world has been able to watch their journey to the November Nine on ESPN's coverage every Tuesday night.

Now, the world will watch as arguably the best poker player in the world, Phil Ivey, makes his run at the WSOP Main Event bracelet and a first place prize of $8,546,435. 

You might be saying to yourself, "But Jay, what if I didn't know that Ivey was going to be at the final table?"  Well, then you just don't follow poker.  In what could be the worst kept "secret" in the history of television coverage, ESPN is showing Ivey's progression in the tournament while building suspense as to whether this great player would reach the final table.  Meanwhile, during the commercials, Full Tilt was running ads proclaiming how Ivey's career had been leading up to his place in the November Nine.  So much for the drama ESPN was trying to build.  Apparently, they realized that the gig was up and decided to put Ivey on the cover of ESPN The Magazine.

Despite the lack of drama leading up to the final table, this is sure to be one of the most anticipated and watched final tables ever.  Besides Ivey, the final table also features Jeff Shulman, who has one previous Main Event final table.  To add to the drama, Shulman's father, Barry, just defeated Daniel Negreanu heads-up to win the World Series of Poker Europe Main Event title.  A father and son combination that wins the WSOP and WSOP Europe Main Event in the same year would be an accomplishment that could never be duplicated.

In addition to these two seasoned pros, a great ensemble of seven other players will make their run.  Included in this group is Darvin Moon, a logger who now sits at the final table as the overwhelming chip leader.

The final nine players and their chip counts are listed below.

Darvin Moon  – 58,930,000
Eric Buchman  – 34,380,000
Steve Begleiter  – 29,885,000
Jeff Shulman  – 19,580,000
Joe Cada  – 13,215,000
Kevin Schaffel  – 12,390,000
Phil Ivey  – 9,765,000
Antione Saout  – 9,500,000
James Ankenhead  – 6,800,000