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November 20, 2009

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The November Nine

 


The wait is over for the nine men ready to settle a $9.12 million pot. The final players at the World Series of Poker resumed play Sunday at the Rio Casino in Las Vegas to determine the champion of this year's no-limit hold'em main event. Here's a quick look at the group nicknamed the "November Nine."


Ivan Demidov

Age: 27

Residence: Moscow, Russia

Occupation: professional poker player

Seat No.: 2

Chip Count: $24,400,000

Sponsor: Full Tilt Poker.net

How he entered: Friend helped him with buy-in

Bodog's odds of winning: 4/1

Bio: Demidov right now is the face of a Russian poker explosion that has occurred over the last two years. The Moscow native made history in becoming the first person to make the final table at both WSOP main events in one year, collecting $608,995 for a third-place finish at the WSOP Europe.


Peter Eastgate

Age: 22

Residence: Odense, Denmark

Occupation: professional poker player

Seat No.: 4

Chip Count: $18,375,000

Sponsor: PokerStars.net

How he entered: He paid the $10,000 entry fee

Bodog's odds of winning: 5/1

Bio: Eastgate, along with Craig Marquis, has the chance to become the youngest main event champion, surpassing Phil Hellmuth who was 24 when he won the event in 1989.


Kelly Kim

Age: 31

Residence: Whittier, Calif.

Occupation: professional poker player

Seat No.: 9

Chip Count: $2,620,000

Sponsor: Full Tilt Poker.net

How he entered: He paid the $10,000 entry fee

Bodog's odds of winning: 15/1

Bio: Kim outlasted Dean Hamrick to make the final table and guarantee himself at least $900,000 in prize money, a $300,000 raise over Hamrick’s 10th-place winnings. Despite having the shortest stack, Kim has experience having played professionally the past five years.


Craig Marquis

Age: 23

Residence: Arlington, Texas

Occupation: college student

Seat No.: 8

Chip Count: $10,210,000

Sponsor: Full Tilt Poker.net

How he entered: He paid the $10,000 entry fee

Bodog's odds of winning: 13/2

Bio: Marquis is the least experienced player in the group having just started playing the game as a hobby in 2007. The avid online player took his game to the pro level as a vacation from work and school, but now has the opportunity to become the youngest champ ever.


Scott Montgomery

Age: 26

Residence: Perth, Ontario, Canada

Occupation: professional poker player

Seat No.: 3

Chip Count: $19,690,000

Sponsor: NA

How he entered: He paid the $10,000 entry fee

Bodog's odds of winning: 4/1

Bio: Montgomery got his start in Japan, taking the money he earned as an English teacher and investing in online games. He turned pro when he returned to North America and had his highest finish last February, cashing in for $296,000 on a fifth-place finish at the LA Poker Classic.


Dennis Phillips

Age: 53

Residence: St. Louis, Mo.

Occupation: truck salesman

Seat No.: 1

Chip Count: $26,295,000

Sponsor: NA

How he entered: Won entry tourney at Harrahs

Bodog's odds of winning: 4/1

Bio: Phillips, the oldest player in the field, is a big-time St. Louis Cardinals fan. The chip leader is also considered one of the favorites despite having picked up the game just four years ago. He has promised to donate part of his winning to the Prevent Cancer Foundation.


David Rheem

Age: 28

Residence: Los Angeles, Calif.

Occupation: professional poker player

Seat No.: 7

Chip Count: $10,230,000

Sponsor: PokerStars.net

How he entered: He paid the $10,000 entry fee

Bodog's odds of winning: 9/2

Bio: Rheem, who goes by the nickname of “Chino,” is probably the most popular player at the final table. He also is one of the more experienced. Despite having a couple of past legal issues become well publicized this year, Rheem also managed to finish fifth in the $5,000 Mixed Hold'em event.


Ylon Schwartz

Age: 38

Residence: Brooklyn, N.Y.

Occupation: professional poker player

Seat No.: 5

Chip Count: $12,525,000

Sponsor: PokerStars.com

How he entered: He paid the $10,000 entry fee

Bodog's odds of winning: 15/2

Bio: Schwartz has been making his living the past 17 years through games. First it was playing chess for cash in New York parks. Then he was introduced to poker. He’s cashed in 12 WSOP events.


Darus Suharto

Age: 39

Residence: Toronto, Canada

Occupation: accountant

Seat No.: 6

Chip Count: $12,520,000

Sponsor: PokerStars.net

How he entered: Won a satellite tournament

Bodog's odds of winning: 13/2

Bio: Suharto, the only player to have a previous WSOP main event cash when he took 448th in 2006. The accountant looks to become the first champion from Canada.



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