07 Nov 08

November Nine: David Rheem

Each day a November Nine in detail. Today: David 'Chino' Rheem – The US American is for many a favourite on November 9th in the race for the WSOP bracelet.

He himself takes the whole situation calmly. "Twice I should have been eliminated in the Main Event. Once I hit a two-outer, and once a six-outer. Without these hands, I wouldn't even be in the finale."

David Rheem However, there's one fact on which the experts agree. Rheem's performance cannot be explained by luck alone. Too often he already reached the final table of a major. Rheem doesn't have as many cashes as Ylon Schwartz, but in comparison, he achieved several top finishes.

His biggest WSOP cash took place in 2006 in a $1,000 No-Limit Hold'em Event, in which he won about $330,000. Allen Cunningham defeated the then underdog and thus prevented him from getting a bracelet. Now, Rheem starts into the finale as the favourite himself on November 9th.

His poker career started about 10 years ago in Florida. He could often be found in the Seminole Hollywood Casino back then where he fought through the low stakes to add to his livelihood.

It is also this time in which Rheem's misdeeds fell, which were extensively covered in the media. Apparently, he had been involved in the illegal dealing of stolen goods amongst other delinquencies about 8 years ago, and was also sentenced to four months in prison. However, Rheem never showed up and instead preferred to leave the state of Florida.

november nine

Dennis Phillips
Ivan Demidov
Scott Montgomery
Peter Eastgate
Ylon Schwartz
Darus Suharto
David 'Chino' Rheem
Craig Marquis
Kelly Kim

Everything has been cleared up, and it was only a misunderstanding, Rheem declared. Furthermore, it is not the image the meanwhile 28-year old wants to convey. Still a Bad Boy in the business, though, he clearly distances himself from the illegal scene. According to Steve Watkins' estimation – the former poker manager of the Seminole Hollywood Casino – he is actually "a polite young man."

"He didn't act like he knew everything and became a good player by watching and playing a lot," Watkins continued.

Apparently, Rheem learned a lot this way. Even though he will enter the finale with the third-smallest stack – 10,230,000 in chips – he is regarded as the favourite.

Origin of photo material: WSOP