The original field of World Series of Poker (WSOP) began with 6,494 competitors. Now, after nearly 11 hours of play in the Rio’s convention pavilion, the nine-player final table is set for the World Series of Poker’s $10,000 no-limit hold ‘em world championship.
The final table, a mixed bag of experienced poker professionals and amateurs ranging in age from 21 to 51, are now on a four-month break.
The World Series of Poker resumes November 7, this time inside the Rio’s Penn & Teller Theater. The nine players will compete until a heads-up table of two is reached. The pair will come back November 9 and play for the title. ESPN will broadcast it the next evening.
The chip leader going forward is Darvin Moon, a logger from Cleveland, Md.. The other eight players in the final table are Eric Buchman of Valley Stream, N.Y., former Bear Stearns executive Steven Begleiter of Chappaqua, N.Y., Card Player magazine editor Jeff Shulman of Las Vegas, Joseph Cada of Shelby Township, Mich., Kevin Schaffel, Coral Springs, Fla., Antoine Saout of France, standout poker player Phil Ivey of Las Vegas and James Akenhead of London.
Vegas Backstage Access (VBA) 