November Nine

The November Nine is the name used to refer to the final nine contestants, or final table, at the Main Event of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) since 2008. The winner of the WSOP Main Event is considered to be the World Champion of Poker.[1]

Prior to 2008, the entire Main Event was played without interruption. Starting in 2008, in an effort to build excitement in the WSOP and to increase ratings for the tape-delayed televised shows, Harrah's Entertainment and ESPN decided to delay the final table until shortly before its scheduled broadcast. The delay would allow ESPN to cover the rest of the tournament leading up to the final table without viewers knowing the winner in advance.[2]

Contents

Reception and criticism

After the announcement was made to delay the final table, concerns arose as to how the delay would affect the tournament.[3] Ylon Schwartz, a 2008 November Nine participant, criticized the four-month delay by saying, "It ruins the integrity of the tournament. The purity of old-time Las Vegas is gone. The antiquity and purity of the tournament have been liquidated into pure greed and capitalism."[4] However, ESPN's Senior Director of Programming and Acquisition, Doug White, stated, "The movement of the final table has definitely helped in terms of creating buzz."[5]

When the 2008 November Nine was broadcast "almost live," ESPN received criticism because the network showed the winner's name prior to the broadcast. Poker journalist Dan Skolovy wrote, "It turned out to be a difficult task to avoid hearing the results. Especially since... ESPN scrolled the winner on its sports ticker long before the broadcast aired."[2] Nonetheless, coverage of the 2008 final table garnered more than a 50 percent increase from the previous year in both the number of viewers and households that watched it.[6] The broadcast later received an Emmy Award nomination for "Outstanding Live Event Turnaround."[7]

Results

Name Name of the player (listed in order of starting chip count from highest to lowest).
Starting chip count The starting chip count at the start of the final table.
WSOP
bracelets
The number of WSOP bracelets at the time the November Nine was determined.[a]
WSOP
cashes
The number of WSOP cashes at the time the November Nine was determined.[a]
WSOP
earnings
The total of WSOP earnings at the time the November Nine was determined.[a]
Final
place
The place in which the player finished the tournament.
Prize The prize money awarded to that player for his or her finish at that year's Main Event.

2008

Original field: 6,844

Total prize pool: $64,431,779

Final table minimum prize: $900,670

Final table maximum prize: $9,152,416

Final table total prize pool: $32,633,446

Reference:[8][9]

Name Starting chip count WSOP
bracelets
WSOP
cashes
WSOP
earnings
Final
place
Prize
Phillips, DennisDennis Phillips 26,295,000 0 0 $0 3rd $4,517,773
Demidov, IvanIvan Demidov[b] 24,400,000 0 1 $39,854 2nd $5,809,595
Montgomery, ScottScott Montgomery 19,690,000 0 3 $73,700 5th $3,096,768
Eastgate, PeterPeter Eastgate 18,375,000 0 0 $0 1st $9,152,416
Schwartz, YlonYlon Schwartz 12,525,000 0 11 $124,580 4th $3,774,974
Suharto, DarusDarus Suharto 12,520,000 0 1 $26,389 6th $2,418,562
Rheem, DavidDavid Rheem 10,230,000 0 5 $474,863 7th $1,772,650
Marquis, CraigCraig Marquis 10,210,000 0 3 $35,759 9th $900,670
Kim, KellyKelly Kim 2,620,000 0 3 $45,191 8th $1,288,217

Dennis Phillips was an account manager for a commercial trucking company. Peter Eastgate, from Denmark, was one of only two non-North American players to make it to the final table (Russian Ivan Demidov was the other).[8] By making the final table, Eastgate and 23-year-old Craig Marquis threatened Phil Hellmuth's 19-year record as youngest person to ever win the WSOP Main Event;[8] Eastgate's victory gave him that distinction. Ylon Schwartz was a former professional chess hustler in New York City parks.[8] Two players, accountant Darus Suharto and poker professional Scott Montgomery, were originally from Canada. Kelly Kim, who had the fewest number of chips entering the final table, was an established professional player who cashed in numerous events but never won a major tournament.[8]

2009

Original field: 6,494

Total prize pool: $61,043,600

Final table minimum prize: $1,263,602

Final table maximum prize: $8,547,042

Final table total prize pool: $27,220,989

Reference:[10]

Name Starting chip count WSOP
bracelets
WSOP
cashes
WSOP
earnings
Final
place
Prize
Moon, DarvinDarvin Moon 58,930,000 0 0 $0 2nd $5,182,928
Buchman, EricEric Buchman 34,800,000 0 9 $320,893 4th $2,502,890
Begleiter, StevenSteven Begleiter 29,885,000 0 0 $0 6th $1,587,160
Shulman, JeffJeff Shulman 19,580,000 0 15 $289,551 5th $1,953,452
Cada, JoeJoe Cada 13,215,000 0 2 $28,214 1st $8,547,042
Schaffel, KevinKevin Schaffel 12,390,000 0 2 $92,166 8th $1,300,231
Ivey, PhilPhil Ivey 9,765,000 7 38 $3,843,018 7th $1,404,014
Saout, AntoineAntoine Saout 9,500,000 0 0 $0 3rd $3,479,670
Akenhead, JamesJames Akenhead 6,800,000 0 2 $525,867 9th $1,263,602

The final table's "rags to riches" story was Darvin Moon, a logger from Maryland.[11] Moon entered the Main Event after winning a $130 satellite tournament in Wheeling, West Virginia.[12]

Jeff Shulman, who entered the final table in fourth place, was the president for Card Player Magazine. Shulman openly stated that, if he won the bracelet, he would throw it away. Some initially speculated that this announcement stemmed from the fact that Harrah's Casino had partnered with Card Player Magazine's main competitor, Bluff Magazine.[11] However, an article on the Card Player website indicated that Shulman's supposed disdain for Harrah's Casino was not based on its partnership with Bluff Magazine. “My comments have nothing to do with that, and everything to do with my disappointment in how the World Series is run," said Shulman. "It used to be run by people who loved and really cared about poker, and had the players in mind, first and foremost. That mission's been derailed by a few executives who now head the Series."[13] He also indicated that, if he won the bracelet, he would not throw it in the trash, but instead would pursue one of four options: hold an auction and donate the money to charity, hold a tournament for the players shut out of the 2009 WSOP Main Event, give it away as part of a promotion on SpadeClub.com (an online poker site sponsored by Cardplayer), or give it to television personality Stephen Colbert.[13]

Other notable finalists included seven-time bracelet winner Phil Ivey and former Bear Stearns senior executive Steven Begleiter.[11]

At age 21, Joe Cada became the youngest player ever to win the WSOP Main Event.[14]

2010

Original field: 7,319

Total prize pool: $68,798,600

Final table minimum prize: $811,823

Final table maximum prize: $8,944,310

Final table prize pool: $29,032,637

Name Starting chip count WSOP
bracelets
WSOP
cashes
WSOP
earnings
Final
place
Prize
Duhamel, JonathanJonathan Duhamel 65,975,000 0 2 $43,000 1st $8,944,310
Dolan, JohnJohn Dolan 46,250,000 0 5 $105,340 6th $1,772,959
Cheong, JosephJoseph Cheong 23,525,000 0 2 $31,064 3rd $4,130,049
Racener, JohnJohn Racener 19,050,000 0 10 $157,528 2nd $5,545,955
Jarvis, MatthewMatthew Jarvis 16,700,000 0 0 0 8th $1,045,743
Candio, FilippoFilippo Candio 16,400,000 0 1 $3,460 4th $3,092,545
Mizrachi, MichaelMichael Mizrachi 14,450,000 1 23 $2,271,327 5th $2,332,992
Nguyen, Cuong SoiCuong Soi Nguyen 9,650,000 0 0 0 9th $811,823
Senti, JasonJason Senti 7,625,000 0 1 $17,987 7th $1,356,720

2011

Original field: 6,865

Total prize Pool: $64,531,000

Final table minimum prize: $782,115

Final table maximum prize: $8,715,638

Final table prize pool: $28,469,161

Name Starting chip count WSOP
bracelets
WSOP
cashes
WSOP
earnings
Final
place
Prize
Staszko, MartinMartin Staszko 40,175,000 0 4 $22,875 2nd $5,433,086
O'Dea, EoghanEoghan O'Dea 33,925,000 0 5 $37,516 6th $1,720,831
Giannetti, MattMatt Giannetti 24,750,000 0 10 $237,249 4th $3,012,700
Collins, PhilPhil Collins 23,875,000 0 8 $48,769 5th $2,269,599
Lamb, BenBen Lamb 20,875,000 1 12 $2,157,249 3rd $4,021,138
Bounahra, Badih "Bob"Badih "Bob" Bounahra 19,700,000 0 1 $7,582 7th $1,314,097
Heinz, PiusPius Heinz 16,425,000 0 1 $83,286 1st $8,715,638
Makiievskyi, AntonAnton Makiievskyi 13,825,000 0 0 0 8th $1,010,015
Holden, SamSam Holden 12,375,000 0 0 0 9th $782,115

Eoghan O'Dea's father, Donnacha O'Dea, played the Main Event final table in 1983 and 1991, making them the first father-son duo to make the final table.[15] In addition, Martin Staszko, Badih Bounahra, Pius Heinz and Anton Makiievskyi were the first players to make the Main Event final table from the countries of Czech Republic, Belize, Germany, and Ukraine, respectively.[16][17][18][19] With seven different countries represented, this was the most internationally diverse Main Event final table in WSOP history.[20]

Notes

a The number of bracelets, cashes, and earnings of the players is determined at the time they qualified for the final table of the Main Event. It does not represent any results from subsequent WSOP events including the World Series of Poker Europe, which occurs between the time the November Nine are determined and the time the final table is seated.

References

  1. ^ "Final Table Set at World Series of Poker Main Event; Nine to Compete at Rio for $12 Million and Title of World Champion". Business Wire. Business Wire. 2006-08-09. http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20060809005375&newsLang=en. Retrieved 2009-01-22. 
  2. ^ a b Skolovy, Daniel (2009-07-14). "How ESPN Can Improve the November Nine". Pokerlistings. http://www.pokerlistings.com/blog/how-espn-can-improve-the-november-nine. Retrieved 2009. 
  3. ^ "The November Nine". ESPN. 2008-07-18. http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/poker/columns/story?columnist=wise_gary&id=3486632. Retrieved 2009-07-21. 
  4. ^ Cypra, Dan (2008-10-30). "WSOP Changes Venue for Main Event Final Table". Poker Daily News. http://www.pokernewsdaily.com/wsop-changes-venue-for-main-event-final-table-618/. Retrieved 2009-07-21. 
  5. ^ Cypra, Dan (2008-11-01). "ESPN Senior Director Comments on WSOP Main Event Broadcast". Poker News Daily. http://www.pokernewsdaily.com/espn-senior-director-comments-on-wsop-main-event-broadcast-629/. Retrieved 2009-07-21. 
  6. ^ Cypra, Dan (2008-11-14). "ESPN Ratings Up 50% for WSOP Main Event Final Table". Poker Daily News. http://www.pokernewsdaily.com/espn-ratings-up-50-for-wsop-main-event-final-table-684/. Retrieved 2009-07-21. 
  7. ^ "Media Center". National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. http://www.emmyonline.tv/mediacenter/sports_30th_nominees.html. Retrieved 2009-07-21. 
  8. ^ a b c d e Polson, Sarah (2008-07-15). "2008 WSOP: Introducing the November Nine". Pokerlisting. http://www.pokerlistings.com/2008-wsop-introducing-the-november-nine-29219. Retrieved 2009-07-22. 
  9. ^ "World Championship No-Limit Texas Hold'em (Event 54)". 2008 39th Annual World Series of Poker. Harrah's Entertainment Inc. http://www.worldseriesofpoker.com/tourney/tournament-payout.asp?tid=4948&grid=411. Retrieved 2009-07-21. 
  10. ^ "World Championship NL Texas Hold'em (Event 57)". 2009 40th Annual World Series of Poker. Harrah's Entertainment Inc.. http://www.worldseriesofpoker.com/tourney/tournament-chip-counts.asp?tid=7283&grid=607. Retrieved 2009-07-21. 
  11. ^ a b c Silver, Steve (2009-07-21). "ESPN to devote record amount of time to Main Event". Las Vegas Sun. http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/jul/21/espn-prepares-record-setting-broadcast/. Retrieved 2009-07-21. 
  12. ^ Burton, Earl (2009-07-20). "Darvin Moon – Poker Player Profile". Poker News Daily. http://www.pokernewsdaily.com/darvin-moon-poker-player-profile-3443/. Retrieved 2009-10-27. 
  13. ^ a b "Jeff Shulman Explains Controversial WSOP Comments". Cardplayer Magazine. 2009-07-17. http://www.cardplayer.com/poker-news/7213-jeff-shulman-explains-controversial-wsop-comments. Retrieved 2009-07-21. 
  14. ^ Willis, Brad (2009-11-10). "WSOP Crowns Joe Cada, Youngest Main Event Winner". PokerStarsBlog.com. http://www.pokerstarsblog.com/wsop/2009/wsop-crowns-joe-cada-youngest-main-event-061007.html. Retrieved 2011-08-03. 
  15. ^ Wise, Gary (2011-09-23). "Eoghan O'Dea creating his own legacy". ESPN.com. http://espn.go.com/poker/story/_/id/6993280/eoghan-odea-stepped-shadows-father-legacy-wsop-main-event-final-table. Retrieved 2011-11-02. 
  16. ^ "Martin Staszko: 2011 WSOP November Nine". PokerListings. 2011-07-19. http://www.pokerlistings.com/blog/martin-staszko-2011-wsop-november-nine. Retrieved 2011-11-02. 
  17. ^ "Badih "Bob" Bounahra: 2011 WSOP November Nine". PokerListings. 2011-07-19. http://www.pokerlistings.com/badih-bob-bounahra-2011-wsop-november-nine. Retrieved 2011-11-02. 
  18. ^ "Pius Heinz: 2011 WSOP November Nine". PokerListings. 2011-07-19. http://www.pokerlistings.com/pius-heinz-2011-wsop-november-nine. Retrieved 2011-11-02. 
  19. ^ Holloway, Chad (2011-10-31). "Preparing for the 2011 World Series of Poker November Nine: Anton Makiievskyi". PokerNews'. http://www.pokernews.com/news/2011/10/2011-world-series-of-poker-november-nine-anton-makiievskyi-11305.htm. Retrieved 2011-11-02. 
  20. ^ "Official Report, Event #58". WSOP.com. 2011-07-20. http://www.wsop.com/pdfs/reports/11497-final-report.pdf. Retrieved 2011-08-03.