Two November Niners make the Main Event final table
It looks set to be a very entertaining final table with two players who have already been there, an online phenom and a very enthusiastic amateur.
7,221 have become nine in the 2017 World Series of Poker Main Event.
It seems like the ideal send off for the November Nine this year to have a final table dominated by former November Niners. Last year's 4th place finisher Michael Ruane bubbled the official final table, but two others got there. 2009's Antoine Saout and 2011's Ben Lamb are both back at the final table, both having previously come 3rd in the big one.
In 2014 the poker world was shocked Mark Newhouse made the final table twice in the post-boom era (back-to-back aswell), so for three players to manage it in the same year (As Ruane technically was at the unofficial final table) is unprecedented. It will be interesting to get their perspectives on whether the final table delay is better or worse for the players next week (though they may be biased if one of them wins it).
Amazingly though, that doesn't seem to be the story of this final table. Amateur player John Hesp from the UK is 2nd in chips and everyone in poker is excited about his potential to remind recreational players about the fun of this game. Eccentrically dressed, humble, fun to watch and 64-years-old, he really ticks all the boxes were we to ever have another Moneymaker style underdog win in the Main Event. The consenus is that this has been a fun final table so far in no small part due to Hesp.
It is also a final not dominated by Americans. Two Frenchmen (Saout and accomplished tournament player Benjamin Pollak) are joined by two Brits (Hesp and Jack Sinclair) and Argentinian Damian Salas.
Another player to watch is American Bryan Piccioli, known as 'theczar' online with over $6 million in online winnings and almost $2 million in live winnings.
The players will now have a short break to recuperate and do media interviews, before the final table resumes on July 20 and plays out over three days. They play down to six players on July 20, down to three players on July 21 and we will have our winner on July 22.
The final table is streamed live on ESPN in the US and various sports channels in Europe, including BT Sport in the UK.
When the players return the blinds will be 400,000/800,000 with a 100,000 ante.
| Position | Player | Chips |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Scott Blumstein | 96,950,000 |
| 2nd | John Hesp | 85,700,000 |
| 3rd | Benjamin Pollak | 35,175,000 |
| 4th | Bryan Piccioli | 33,800,000 |
| 5th | Dan Ott | 26,375,000 |
| 6th | Damian Salas | 25,750,000 |
| 7th | Antoine Saout | 21,750,000 |
| 8th | Jack Sinclair | 20,200,000 |
| 9th | Ben Lamb | 17,950,000 |
| Number of entrants: 9 (7,221) | ||
Everyone is now officially a millionaire. This is what they are playing for later this week:
| Position | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | $8,150,000 |
| 2nd | $4,700,000 |
| 3rd | $3,500,000 |
| 4th | $2,600,000 |
| 5th | $2,000,000 |
| 6th | $1,675,000 |
| 7th | $1,425,000 |
| 8th | $1,200,000 |
| 9th | $1,000,000 |
Who is your money on this year? Let us know in the comments.
