[OLD HEAD]

2008 39th Annual World Series of Poker
Casino Employees No-Limit Hold'em (Event 55)

EVENT #55

Monday, July 07, 2008 to Tuesday, July 08, 2008

Buy-in: $500

Prizepool: $418,500

Entries: 930

Top 12 In The Money

1.Jonathan Kotula $87,929
2.Kevin O'Harra $56,748
3.Glenda Harrell $34,107
4.Daniel Kohnen $28,667
5.Andrew Brock $23,435
6.Michael Anderson $18,414
7.Elaine Graham $14,229
8.David Dietrich $11,090
9.Monica Conrad $7,951
10.Robert Threadgill $5,022
11.John Armstrong $5,022
12.Rex Schoolcraft $5,022

[OLD HEAD]

2008 39th Annual World Series of Poker
Ante Up For Africa
Wednesday, July 02, 2008 to Wednesday, July 02, 2008
Buy-in: $5,000
Prizepool: tbd
Entries: 88

1.John Hennigan $136,860
2.Michael Degusta $85,536
3.Dan Shak $54,529
4.Phil Hellmuth $38,491
5.Matt Calhoun $31,006
6.Jerry Cantrell $25,660
7.Jordanna Schutz $21,384
8.Ray Romano$ 18,176
9.Casey Affleck $16,038

[OLD HEAD]

2008 39th Annual World Series of Poker
World Championship No-Limit Texas Hold'em (Event 54)

EVENT #54

"MAIN EVENT"

Thursday, July 03, 2008 to Monday, July 14, 2008

Buy-in: $10,000

Prizepool: $64,333,600

Entries: 6,844

Sunday July 13,2008

57 Players Remain Of 6,844

Players With 3,000,000 Chips Minimum


Gert Andersen 9,000,000
Brandon Cantu 6,200,000
Nikolay Losev 5,940,000
Albert Kim 5,600,000
Chris Klodnicki 4,820,000
Aaron Gordon 4,800,000
Ivan Demidov 4,400,000
Kelly Kim 4,000,000
Nicholas Sliwinski 3,900,000
Andrew Rosskamm 3,730,000
Tiffany Michelle 3,700,000
Andrew Brokos 3,700,000
Dennis Phillips 3,680,000
David 'Chino' Rheem 3,640,000
Toni Judet 3,140,000

[OLD HEAD]

Tue, 15 Jul 2008 03:39:00


2008 39th Annual World Series of Poker

World Championship No-Limit Texas Hold'em (Event 54)

EVENT #54

"MAIN EVENT"

Thursday, July 03, 2008 to Monday, July 14, 2008

Buy-in: $10,000

Prizepool: $64,333,600

Entries: 6,844


"NOVEMBER NINE"


Official November Nine Chip Counts and Seat Assignments

On November 9th, 2008, the following nine players will return to the felt with 21 minutes and 50 seconds left in level 33:

Dennis Phillips - 26,295,000
Craig Marquis - 10,210,000
Ylon Schwartz - 12,525,000
Scott Montgomery - 19,690,000
Darus Suharto - 12,520,000
David 'Chino' Rheem - 10,230,000
Ivan Demidov - 24,400,000
Kelly Kim - 2,620,000
Peter Eastgate - 18,375,000

[OLD HEAD]

"MAIN EVENT"

Payouts for the "November Nine"


1st $9,119,517
2nd $5,790,024
3rd $4,503,352
4th $3,763,515
5th $3,088,012
6th $2,412,510
7th $1,769,174
8th $1,286,672
9th $900,670

[OLD HEAD]

CONGRATULATIONS!

TO ALL 2008 WORLD SERIES OF POKER BRACELET WINNERS

Complete list of all events and winners.
Main Event #54 will be added in November when the "November Nine" meet to see who wins this coveted bracelet.

$10,000 World Championship Pot-Limit Hold'em (Event 1) Nenad Medic $794,112

$1,500 No-Limit Hold'em (Event 2) Grant Hinkle $831,462

$1,500 Pot-Limit Hold'em (Event 3) David Singer $214,122

$5,000 Mixed Hold'em (Limit/No-Limit) (Event 4) Erick Lindgren $374,505

$1,000 No-Limit Hold'em w/ReBuys (Event 5) Michael Banducci $636,736

$1,500 Omaha Hi-Low Split-8 or Better (Event 6) Thang Luu $243,342

$2,000 No-Limit Hold'em (Event 7) Matt Keikoan $550,601

$10,000 World Championship Mixed Event (Event 8) Anthony Rivera $483,688

$1,500 No-Limit Hold'em / Six Handed (Event 9) Ralph (Rep) Porter $372,843

$2,500 Omaha/Seven Card Stud Hi-Low-8 or Better (Event 10) Farzad Rouhani $232,911

$5,000 No-Limit Hold'em Shootout (Event 11) Phillip Tom $477,990

$1,500 Limit Hold'em (Event 12) Jimmy Shultz $257,049

$2,500 No-Limit Hold'em (Event 13) Duncan Bell $666,777

$10,000 World Championship Seven Card Stud (Event 14) Eric Brooks $415,856

$1,000 Ladies No-Limit Hold'em World Championship (Event 15) Svetlana Gromenkova $224,702

$2,000 Omaha Hi-Low Split-8 or Better (Event 16) Andrew Brown $226,483

$1,500 No-Limit Hold'em Shootout (Event 17) Jason Young $335,565

$5,000 No-Limit 2-7 Draw Lowball w/ReBuys (Event 18) Mike Matusow $537,862

$1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha (Event 19) Vanessa Selbst $227,965

$2,000 Limit Hold'em (Event 20) Daniel Negreanu $204,874

$5,000 No-Limit Hold'em (Event 21) Scott Seiver $755,891

$3,000 H.O.R.S.E. (Event 22) Jens Voertmann $298,253

$2,000 No-Limit Hold'em (Event 23) Blair Hinkle $507,563

$2,500 Pot-Limit Holdem/Omaha (Event 24) Max Pescatori $246,471

$10,000 World Championship Heads Up No-Limit Hold'em (Event 25) Kenny Tran $539,056

$1,500 Seven Card Razz (Event 26) Barry Greenstein $157,643

$1,500 No-Limit Hold'em (Event 27) Vitaly Lunkin $628,417

$5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha W/Rebuys (Event 28) Philip Galfond $817,781

$3,000 No-Limit Hold'em (Event 29) John "Razor" Phan $434,789

$10,000 World Championship Limit Hold'em (Event 30) Rob Hollink $496,931

$2,500 No-Limit Hold'em / Six Handed (Event 31) Dario Minieri $528,418

$1,500 No-Limit Hold'em (Event 32) Jose-Luis Velador $574,734

$5,000 World Championship Seven Card Stud Hi-Low Split-8 or Better (Event 33) Sebastian Ruthenberg $328,756

$1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha W/ReBuys (Event 34) Layne Flack $577,725

$1,500 Seven Card Stud (Event 35) Michael Rocco $135,753

$1,500 No-Limit Hold'em (Event 36) Jesper Hougaard $610,304

$10,000 World Championship Omaha Hi-Low Split-8 or Better (Event 37) David Benyamine $535,687

$2,000 Pot-Limit Hold'em (Event 38) Davidi Kitai $244,583

$1,500 No-Limit Hold'em (Event 39) David Woo $631,550

$2,500 2-7 Triple Draw Lowball - Limit (Event 40) John "Razor" Phan $151,911

$1,500 Mixed Hold'em - limit/no-limit (Event 41) Frank Gary $219,562

$1,000 Seniors No-Limit Hold'em World Championship (Event 42) Dan Lacourse $368,832

$1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-low Split-8 or Better (Event 43) Martin Klaser $216,249

$1,000 No-Limit Hold'em w/ReBuys (Event 44) Maxwell Greenwood $693,392

$50,000 World Championship H.O.R.S.E. (Event 45) Scotty Nguyen $1,989,120

$5,000 No-Limit Hold'em / Six Handed (Event 46) Joe Commisso $911,855

$1,500 Seven Card Stud Hi-Low-8 or Better (Event 47) Ryan Hughes $183,368

$2,000 No-Limit Hold'em (Event 48) Alexandre Gomes $770,540

$1,500 No-Limit Hold'em (Event 49) J.C. Tran $631,170

$10,000 World Championship Pot Limit Omaha (Event 50) Marty Smyth $859,549

$1,500 H.O.R.S.E. (Event 51) James Schaaf $256,412

$1,500 No-Limit Hold'em (Event 52) David Daneshgar $625,443

$1,500 Limit Hold'em Shootout (Event 53) Matthew Graham $278,180

$500 Casino Employees No-Limit Hold'em (Event 55) Jonathan Kotula $87,929

[OLD HEAD]

World Series Of Poker 2008

"Main Event"

"November Nine"

Dennis Phillips

Bluff-ESPN Power Ranking: 8359
Total WSOP & Circuit Earnings: $4,578

WSOP Bracelets: 0
WSOP Cashes: 0
WSOP Earnings: $0

Circuit Cashes: 2
Circuit Earnings: $4,578

Resides: Cottage Hills, IL

• Long Term Poker Goals: To win the World Series ME


Tournament data:

2007/2008 WSOP Circuit Event - Grand Casino Tunica
Event 14 - No-Limit Hold’em
$550 buy-in 9/9/2007 7th $2,192

2007/2008 WSOP Circuit Event - Grand Casino Tunica
Event 11 - No Limit Hold'em
$550 buy-in 9/7/2007 9th $2,386

Good Luck!

[OLD HEAD]

World Series Of Poker 2008

"Main Event"

"November Nine"

Ivan Demidov

Bluff-ESPN Power Ranking: 5641
Total WSOP & Circuit Earnings: $39,854

WSOP Bracelets: 0
WSOP Cashes: 1
WSOP Earnings: $39,854

Circuit Cashes: 0
Circuit Earnings: $0

Birthdate: 1981
Resides: Moscow, Russia

• Started playing poker early 2006

• In his free time, Demidov enjoys skiing, scuba diving.


2008 39th Annual World Series of Poker
No-Limit Hold'em w/ReBuys (Event 44)
$1,000 buy-in 6/25/2008 11th $39,854

Good Luck!

[OLD HEAD]

World Series Of Poker 2008

"Main Event"

"November Nine"

Scott Montgomery

Bluff-ESPN Power Ranking: 206
Total WSOP & Circuit Earnings: $73,700

WSOP Bracelets: 0
WSOP Cashes: 3
WSOP Earnings: $73,700

Circuit Cashes: 0
Circuit Earnings: $0

Birthdate: 10/16/1981
Resides: Perth Ontario, Canada


Tournament data:

2008 39th Annual World Series of Poker
World Championship Heads Up No-Limit Hold'em (Event 25)
$10,000 buy-in 6/13/2008 16th $36,096

2008 39th Annual World Series of Poker
No-Limit Hold'em (Event 7)
$2,000 buy-in 6/4/2008 17th $18,833

2008 39th Annual World Series of Poker
No-Limit Hold'em (Event 2)
$1,500 buy-in 5/31/2008 29th $18,771


Good Luck!

[OLD HEAD]

World Series Of Poker 2008

"Main Event"

"November Nine"

Peter Eastgate

Bluff-ESPN Power Ranking: 8216
Total WSOP & Circuit Earnings: $0

This player currently has no WSOP results

Birthdate: 1986
Resides: Odense, Denmark


Good Luck!

[OLD HEAD]

World Series Of Poker 2008

"Main Event"

"November Nine"

Ylon Schwartz

Bluff-ESPN Power Ranking: 940
Total WSOP & Circuit Earnings: $137,149

WSOP Bracelets: 0
WSOP Cashes: 11
WSOP Earnings: $124,580

Circuit Cashes: 2
Circuit Earnings: $12,569

Resides: Brooklyn, NY

• Poker players that Ylon most respects: Adam Ellis, a player I met at the Taj a few years back .


Tournament data:

2008 39th Annual World Series of Poker
Limit Hold'em (Event 20)
$2,000 buy-in 6/10/2008 15th $10,046

2007/2008 WSOP Circuit Event - Caesars Atlantic City
Championship Event
$5,150 buy-in 3/13/2008 21st $8,084

2007 38th Annual World Series of Poker
No-Limit Hold'em w/Re-Buys (Event 52)
$1,000 buy-in 7/2/2007 29th $16,133

2007 38th Annual World Series of Poker
No-Limit Hold'em / Six Handed (Event 30)
$2,500 buy-in 6/18/2007 58th $4,091

2006 37th Annual World Series of Poker
No-Limit Hold'em (Event 37)
$1,500 buy-in 7/25/2006 38th $9,183

2006 37th Annual World Series of Poker
No-Limit Hold'em (Event 31)
$2,000 buy-in 7/21/2006 39th $9,328

2006 37th Annual World Series of Poker
No-Limit Hold'em (Event 17)
$1,000 buy-in 7/10/2006 152nd $3,157

2006 37th Annual World Series of Poker
No-Limit Hold'em (Event 13)
$2,500 buy-in 7/7/2006 17th $28,187

2005/2006 WSOP Circuit Event - Showboat Atlantic City
No-Limit Hold'em
$500 buy-in 12/2/2005 8th $4,485

2005 36th Annual World Series of Poker
Limit Hold'em (Event 36)
$3,000 buy-in 7/3/2005 33rd $4,480

2005 36th Annual World Series of Poker
Limit Hold'em (Event 28)
$5,000 buy-in 6/27/2005 16th $10,115

2005 36th Annual World Series of Poker
No-Limit Hold'Em (Event 24)$2,500 buy-in 6/24/2005 58th $4,860

2005 36th Annual World Series of Poker
No-limit Hold'em (Event 22)
$1,500 buy-in 6/22/2005 15th $25,000



Good Luck!

[OLD HEAD]

World Series Of Poker 2008

"Main Event"

"November Nine"

Darus Suharto

Bluff-ESPN Power Ranking: 7846
Total WSOP & Circuit Earnings: $26,389

WSOP Bracelets: 0
WSOP Cashes: 1
WSOP Earnings: $26,389

Circuit Cashes: 0
Circuit Earnings: $0

Birthdate: 1969
Resides: Toronto, Canada

• Has been playing poker seriously since 2005.

• Obtained entry to the 2008 World Series of Poker Main Event through a $650 satellite.



Tournament data:

2006 37th Annual World Series of Poker
No-Limit Texas Hold'em World Championship Event (Event 39)
$10,000 buy-in 7/28/2006 448th $26,389


Good Luck!

[OLD HEAD]

World Series Of Poker 2008

"Main Event"

"November Nine"

David (Chino) Rheem

Bluff-ESPN Power Ranking: 571
Total WSOP & Circuit Earnings: $474,843

WSOP Bracelets: 0
WSOP Cashes: 5
WSOP Earnings: $474,843

Circuit Cashes: 0
Circuit Earnings: $0

Resides: Miami, FL

• Nicknamed "Chino"



Tournament data:

2008 39th Annual World Series of Poker
Mixed Hold'em (Limit/No-Limit) (Event 4)
$5,000 buy-in 6/2/2008 5th $93,624

2007 38th Annual World Series of Poker
H.O.R.S.E. (Event 16)
$2,500 buy-in 6/9/2007 29th $6,923

2006 37th Annual World Series of Poker
No-Limit Hold'em w/re-buys (Event 14)
$1,000 buy-in 7/8/2006 2nd $327,981

2005 36th Annual World Series of Poker
No-Limit Hold'em Championship (Event 42)
$10,000 buy-in 7/7/2005 193rd $39,075

2005 36th Annual World Series of Poker
Limit Hold'em (Event 4)
$1,500 buy-in 6/5/2005 19th $7,240



Good Luck!

[OLD HEAD]

World Series Of Poker 2008

"Main Event"

"November Nine"

Craig Marquis

Bluff-ESPN Power Ranking: 4982
Total WSOP & Circuit Earnings: $35,759

WSOP Bracelets: 0
WSOP Cashes: 3
WSOP Earnings: $35,759

Circuit Cashes: 0
Circuit Earnings: $0

Resides: Arlington, TX


Tournament data:

2008 39th Annual World Series of Poker
No-Limit Hold'em Shootout (Event 17)
$1,500 buy-in 6/9/2008 18th $5,596

2007 38th Annual World Series of Poker
No-Limit Hold'em w/Re-Buys (Event 52)
$1,000 buy-in 7/2/2007 30th $16,133

2007 38th Annual World Series of Poker
World Championship Pot Limit Hold'em (Event 13)
$5,000 buy-in 6/8/2007 34th $14,030


Good Luck!

[OLD HEAD]

World Series Of Poker 2008

"Main Event"

"November Nine"

Kelly Kim

Bluff-ESPN Power Ranking: 1412
Total WSOP & Circuit Earnings: $26,856

WSOP Bracelets: 0
WSOP Cashes: 2
WSOP Earnings: $20,415

Circuit Cashes: 1
Circuit Earnings: $6,441

Resides: Whitter, CA


Tournament data:

2007/2008 WSOP Circuit Event - Caesars Palace Las Vegas
Main Event - No-Limit Hold'em
$5,150 buy-in 4/29/2008 29th $6,441

2007 38th Annual World Series of Poker
No-Limit Hold'em w/Re-Buys (Event 52)
$1,000 buy-in 7/2/2007 57th $8,067

2007 38th Annual World Series of Poker
No-Limit Hold'em (Event 19)
$2,500 buy-in 6/11/2007 28th $12,348


Good Luck!

[OLD HEAD]

"November Nine” Top Total Field of 6,844 to Compete for Lion’s Share of $64 Million and WSOP Champion’s Bracelet on Poker’s Biggest Night

LAS VEGAS – After 12 days of grueling Main Event competition at the record-setting 39th annual World Series of Poker Presented by Milwaukee’s Best Light, the stage is finally set for the most prestigious night in poker history.


For the first time ever, play at a World Series of Poker tournament has been suspended prior to a champion being crowned. The unique event structure calls for the final nine of 6,844 competitors in the $10,000 No-Limit Texas Hold’em World Championship to return to the Rio® All-Suite Hotel and Casino on November 9 to begin the battle for the Main Event title and the top prize of $9.1 million.

Dubbed “The November Nine,” the participants will have 117 days before they return to Las Vegas, where they will vie for the title on what is literally poker’s largest stage – inside the Rio’s state-of-the-art, 1,500-seat Penn & Teller Theater.

In descending order of chip count, The November Nine are:

· DENNIS PHILLIPS, 53, St. Louis, Missouri, 26,295,000
· IVAN DEMIDOV, 27, Moscow, Russia, 24,400,000
· SCOTT MONTGOMERY, 26, Perth, Ontario, Canada, 19,690,000
· PETER EASTGATE, 22, Odense, Denmark, 18,375,000
· YLON SCHWARTZ, 38, Brooklyn, New York, 12,525,000
· DARUS SUHARTO, 39, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 12,520,000
· DAVID RHEEM, 28, Los Angeles, California, 10,230,000
· CRAIG MARQUIS, 23, Arlington, Texas, 10,210,000
· KELLY KIM, 31, Whittier, California, 2,620,000

The nine will play down to two on Nov. 9; the final two competitors will then go heads up beginning at 10 p.m. PDT on Nov. 10, with the winner expected to be crowned in the early morning hours of November 11. In a World Series of Poker first, ESPN will carry same-day coverage of the victory beginning at 9 p.m. EST on Nov. 11.

The November Nine outlasted a massive field of 6,844 who entered the $10,000 No-Limit Texas Hold’em World Championship. This year’s total Main Event prize pool is $64,333,600. A total of 666 players will cash in the event; payout for 666th place was $21,230.

The final nine will play for a total of $32,633,446, with the following pay schedule:

1st Place: $9,119,517 4th Place: $3,763,515 7th Place: $1,769,174
2nd Place: $5,790,024 5th Place: $3,088,012 8th Place: $1,286,672
3rd Place: $4,503,352 6th Place: $2,412,510 9th Place: $900,670

“The winner of the World Series of Poker Main Event has always become an instant celebrity,” said World Series of Poker Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack. “This year, all nine players who make the final table will become household names – and are guaranteed life-changing prize money to go with their fame and place in poker history.”

ESPN will air a one-hour special on the final nine participants Tuesday, Nov. 4 at 9 p.m. EST. The network’s high-definition coverage of the Main Event begins Tuesday, Sept. 2 at 9 p.m. EST; two-hour episodes will run each Tuesday until the Nov. 11 finale.

The 39th annual World Series of Poker was the largest and richest in history, attracting 58,720 competitors in its 55 events – an increase of 4,432, or 8 percent, over the previous record established in 2007. The total prize pool at this year’s World Series of Poker was $180,676,248, an increase of $20,880,030 over the previous record, also established last year. Players from a record 118 countries participated in this year’s tournaments, more than in the most recent Winter Olympics. That number is up 36 percent from the previous record of 87 countries set in 2007.

The 39th annual World Series of Poker, a compilation of 55 tournaments covering all of the game’s major variations, began May 30 at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. The Main Event, with four start dates to accommodate its large playing field, began on July 3.

[OLD HEAD]

More on the November Nine


Meet the November Nine

Dennis Phillips – 26,295,000 Dennis Phillips, nicknamed "Fordman", is the current chip leader of the "November Nine" at the 2008 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event Final Table. He is a 53 year-old account manager for a commercial trucking company in St. Louis, Missouri. Phillips attended Blackburn College in Carlinville, IL. He started playing poker as a hobby four years ago, and certainly never expected to get this far after winning a satellite tournament at his local Harrah’s casino that sent him to Vegas for the big event. Phillips has only cashed in two live tournaments, being awarded a combined total of less than $5,000. He plans to give some prize money to various charities, especially Multiple Sclerosis because his brother is afflicted with the disease and Bad Beat on Cancer. Since July 14th Dennis threw out the first pitch at a St. Louis Cardinals baseball and made a donation of $10,000 to the Albert Pujols Foundation.

Ivan Demidov - 24,400,000 Nicknamed "Soul," Ivan Demidov is the second highest chip leader in the 2008 Main Event Final Table. The 27-year-old professional poker player hailing from Moscow, Russia has earned most of his cashes in online poker rooms. Demidov has seen only three live tournament cashes, though his earnings total is an impressive $65,081. This was his first time playing at the WSOP. In addition to his place in the Main Event, he finished 11th place in Event # 44, the $1,000 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em championship. Demidov excels in computer games such as Starcraft and Warcraft and was one of the top online players. He is single and enjoys skiing and scuba diving.

Scott Montgomery – 19,690,000 Twenty six year-old Canadian Scott Montgomery sits in third place among the chip leaders in the Main Event. He received his Bachelor of Mathematics at the University of Waterloo and has been playing poker for about four years. All of his live tournament cashes came in 2008 – three of those in the 2008 WSOP – and Montgomery’s total live tournament earnings equal $406,585. His favorite poker memory is winning three consecutive tournaments online. In poker circles, fellow Canadian Daniel Negreanu tops Montgomery’s list as his favorite player.


Peter Eastgate – 18,375,000 Hailing from Odense, Denmark is Peter Eastgate. Nicknamed "Isser," the 22-year-old professional poker player has been involved with the game for about three years. He paid cash to enter the 2008 WSOP and now finds himself at the Final Table. He has claimed two live tournament cashes over the last two years, earning $76,084. While he respects many poker players, Eastgate says that his favorite is Patrik Antonius because of his "skill and class."

Ylon Schwartz – 12,525,000 Ylon Schwartz, nicknamed "Eman," is a 38-year-old from Brooklyn, New York. Growing up, one of his favorite athletes was Reggie Jackson. He attended the Borough of Manhattan Community College and is a former professional chess player, who played games for money in New York City's public parks. He discovered he could make a far better living playing poker, and has been doing so the last several years. He has earned 30 live tournament cashes in the last decade, totaling $255,851. Of those profitable endeavors, Schwartz has yet to place better than 3rd in any live poker tournament. This is his 12th time to cash at the WSOP (more than any other finalist); and his best previous finish was 15th place in the $2,000 buy-in Limit Hold’em event this year. Part of his plan with his prize money is to help a few of his best friends.

Darus Suharto – 12,520,000 Thirty nine year-old accountant Darus Suharto was born in Indonesia and now resides in Toronto, Ontario – Canada. He attended both York University and the University of Central Arkansas. Suharto has only produced one live tournament cash in the amount of $26,389, for his 448th place finish at the 2006 WSOP Main Event. He won satellite entry into the 2008 Main Event. His favorite poker player is Daniel Negreanu and his hobbies include traveling, reading, going to movies or just relaxing at home. In his free time, he also volunteers at some professional associations/not-for profit organizations.

David Rheem – 10,230,000 David "Chino" Rheem is a 28 year-old professional poker player from Los Angeles, California. Growing up, he excelled at basketball and, as most kids following that sport, looked up to Michael Jordan. This California native has been playing professional poker for ten years now, topping the profits list with $634,657 over 15 cashes in the last three years. Five of those came from WSOP events, but this will be Rheem’s first WSOP Main Event cash. He nearly won a bracelet in the 2006 No-Limit Hold’em $1,000 re-buy event finishing second and earning $328,000. Few people know that Chino is scared of heights. His plans with the prize money are to help his family and friends.

Craig Marquis – 10,210,000 Craig Marquis is a 23 year-old from Arlington, Texas. He took a few years of community college, then went to UT-Arlington, before taking a break from school to play poker. While Marquis has only been playing poker for less than two years and mostly puts his skills to the test online, he has pocketed three live tournament cashes, all of which came from WSOP events; the first two in 2007 and another this year in Event #17, the $1500 buy-in No Limit Hold'em Shootout. Marquis looks forward to increasing his current earnings of $35,759 with his play this November in the Main Event Final Table. Marquis’s favorite poker players are David Benefield and Tom Dwan. In his free time, he enjoys playing the guitar and watching movies. He plans to help his family, and give his sisters some assistance with their schooling with his prize money.

Kelly Kim – 2,620,000 Kelly Kim rounds out the November Nine as the long shot with a very small chip stack of only 2,620,000. That may seem like a lot of chips, but compared to the next lowest (Craig Marquis) stack of 10.2 million, and the highest (Dennis Phillips) of 26.2 million, it will be interesting to see if Kim can increase his stack size soon enough to stay in the Final Table. The 31-year-old professional poker player of Korean descent resides in Whittier, California. Growing up, he played football and wrestled in high school. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Economics from UC-San Diego and used to work as a business analyst. During his sophomore year of college, he entered his first live poker tournament at a small Indian casino. Kim’s first live tournament cash came in 2001, earning $798, but those numbers have increased significantly to total 37 cashes and $351,744 in winnings. He respects Daniel Negreanu because he doesn’t hide anything from his fans, and is open and honest. Like many of the "November Nine," Kim also plans to help his family and friends with the prize money.

[OLD HEAD]

"MAIN EVENT"


The final "FINAL" event starts on Sunday. The verdict is still out on how this will play out but there will be some happy millionaires next week.
I do not like this format even a little, but I am only one person. Part of the reason people look at poker as a sport is the mental and physical stamina needed to compete in the World Series Of Poker. This is no way in my opinion to end this great event. I hope the powers that be take a closer look at this event and change it back.


Payouts for the "November Nine"


1st $9,119,517
2nd $5,790,024
3rd $4,503,352
4th $3,763,515
5th $3,088,012
6th $2,412,510
7th $1,769,174
8th $1,286,672
9th $900,670


GOOD LUCK!

[OLD HEAD]

2008 39th Annual World Series of Poker - Final Table

Event - November Nine

Sunday, November 09, 2008 to Thursday, November 13, 2008

Buy-in: $10,000

Prizepool: $64,431,779

Entries: 6,844

#1.Peter Eastgate $9,152,416

2.Ivan Demidov $5,809,595
3.Dennis Phillips $4,517,773
4.Ylon Schwartz $3,774,974
5.Scott Montgomery $3,096,768
6.Darus Suharto $2,418,562
7.David (Chino) Rheem $1,772,650
8.Kelly Kim $1,288,217
9.Craig Marquis $900,670



See Ya Next Year! Good Luck!

[OLD HEAD]

World Series Of Poker 2008