November Nine Final Table Day 1 | 2009 WSOP Main Event - The Final Table

11-07-2009 08:44 UTC-12

Player Introductions

[user75032]

Effel is announcing our 2009 November Nine one by one, in seat order around the table, and giving a thumbnail bio of each one. Phil Ivey got a standing ovation from half of the theater. Effel had to wait about twenty seconds after announcing Ivey for the theater to calm down before he could continue with Ivey's bio.

11-07-2009 08:38 UTC-12

Giving More Back

donpeters

Keeping the players in mind, Harrah's deposited the remaining prizepool of $15,847,250 into a risk-free interest-bearing account back on July 16, 2009 up until November 2, 2009. This was the total money left over in the prize pool after each member of the November Nine was paid out ninth-place money ($1,263,602). The remaining money accrued $1,321 in interest and the following amounts have been added to each place.

1st: $607
2nd: $327
3rd: $185
4th: $103
5th: $57
6th: $27
7th: $12
8th: $3
9th: $0

Since each player has already been paid ninth-place money, the ninth-place finisher will receive no extra cash. Our 'prizepool and payouts' section (which can be found using the tab on the right), already reflects these changes.

11-07-2009 08:38 UTC-12

One Last Bracelet Ceremony

[user75032]

As part of the opening festivities, Barry Shulman was honored for his WSOP Europe Main Event win with a gold bracelet ceremony. In a moment that gave everyone in the theater chills, the color guard from Nellis Air Force Base silently marched onto the stage with the banner of the United States of America. The theater was treated to a rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner, with Shulman at center stage.

That was the last bit of business before play begins. Effel is on the mic again, prepared to *finally* end the 115-day break since the November Nine were determined.

11-07-2009 08:32 UTC-12

Darvin Moon Note

[user75032]

There was lots of speculation leading up to the final table regarding whether chip leader Darvin Moon would accept a sponsorship deal. He was on record in July as never having played online poker, and therefore had no interest in accepting a sponsorship from an online site.

It seems that Moon did not change his mind over the last four months. He is seated at the table without any online poker logo on his clothing. The only logo of any type he's displaying is the same one he displayed in July -- a cap with the fleur de lis of the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League.

Tags: Darvin Moon

11-07-2009 08:28 UTC-12

More Preliminaries

[user75032]

Lacey Jones did two quick interviews with "the man with the loudest rail last year", Dennis Phillips, and the 2008 champion, Peter Eastgate. Eastgate's advice for the players taking part in today's final table was to "Be yourself."

The mic was then passed back to Jack Effel and he instructed the players to take their seats. On cue, the noise in the theater rose to a deafening volume.

We're mere moments away from the start of play now.

11-07-2009 08:19 UTC-12

The Preliminaries Begin

[user75032]

Tournament Director Jack Effel (looking extra sharp in a tuxedo and recent haircut) got things started by welcoming WSOP Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack to the stage. Pollack asked for a moment of silence in memory of Hans "Tuna" Lund, who died two days ago. After that, he welcomed everyone in the theater to the 2009 World Series of Poker Main Event final table before passing the mic back to Effel.

Effel is now going over some of the ancillary events going on at the Rio this weekend and is instructing the audience on proper etiquette during play.

11-07-2009 08:13 UTC-12

Bust Out Your Noise-Reducing Headphones

[user75032]

We can't hear ourselves think in the theater right now. Cada's supporters are chanting, "Joey! Joey!"; everyone else is trying to drown them out with random other noise. Kevin Schaffel's supporters have gone the route of the pun, wearing T-shirts that say "Schaffel Up and Deal".

At least there's no truck horn this year. Yet.

11-07-2009 08:02 UTC-12

The First Photo Op

[user75032]

The 2009 November Niners have been brought out onto the stage to unbag their chips. The entire audience (more than 600 strong at this point) rose to its feet in unison to applaud and cheer. A phalanx of photographers swarmed the stage to capture the unbagging and stacking process, while Stephen Begleiter's fans let off the first round of the "BEGS! BEGS! BEGS!" chant.

We're getting closer to the start of play but it's still going to be a while yet.

11-07-2009 07:59 UTC-12

Warming Things Up

[user75032]

The doors are open to the public -- and so the insanity begins. The line outside the Penn & Teller Theater is about twice as long as it was last year. That's what happens when the greatest living poker player makes the Final Table of the WSOP Main Event.

It's chaos on the stage right now. The alluring Lacey Jones is waiting to begin her duties as MC, dressed in a stunning, form-fitting pink dress. Joseph Cada's supporters are all wearing yellow T-shirts that read "WSOP 2009 - Cada" on the back; Steven Begleiter's crew is dressed in blue t-shirts, with a giant "BEGS! BEGS! BEGS!" emblazoned on the back of each.

Luminaries spotted already: Jen Harman (with husband Marco Traniello) and Phil Gordon; 2008 November Niners Dennis Phillips, Ylon Schwartz and 2008 world champion Peter Eastgate; Daniel Negreanu and 2004 world champion Greg Raymer; and Barry Shulman and wife Allyn Jaffrey-Shulman. There was a rumor that New York Yankee pitcher C.C. Sabathia was here but it turned out to be false.

Get ready to get crazy.

11-07-2009 07:48 UTC-12

The Place Is Buzzing

donpeters

The Penn & Teller Theatre here at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino is absolutely buzzing as the minutes tick away to the start of the WSOP Main Event final table.

On the walk in, over 500 people were lined up waiting to get in and take their seats. Now, the family and friends of the players are slowing trickling into the theatre along with anxious poker fans waiting to get a glimpse of the final table for the greatest tournament in the world! Security is almost as tight as going through customs. Officers are thoroughly checking each spectator as they pass through the ropes.

Chip leader Darvin Moon's group of supporters were first in line waiting to bust through to the arena. All of them are rocking some custom-made shirts displaying 'Bad Moon Rising'. A paper head on a stick displaying Moon's face was also seen in one of the supporters hands. Will anyone top the truck horn from Dennis Phillips' entourage last year?

'Team Ivey' signs are all over the place outside in the hallway and he is the clear fan favorite. He's got a pretty hefty private section right next to the final table for his fan pack. Many poker pros and regular Las Vegas grinders are here rooting for Ivey. Some are rooting even harder as they've placed some hefty bets on the man formerly known as 'No Home Jerome'.

The bags have been placed around the table in the appropriate seats and action is set to begin shortly!