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2011 WSOP Final Table Preview

For the fourth consecutive year, the World Series of Poker will feature the final table separately in November. The finalists in this format are known as the November Nine.

Seven countries are represented at this year’s final table. These include the United States, Belize, Ireland, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, Germany, and the Czech Republic. This marks the most international final table in the event’s history.

The grand event will take place from November 5th to 7th at the Rio in Las Vegas. The WSOP moved from the original Horseshoe to the Rio to accommodate larger entry fields, spectators, and media presence.

Many speculated that Black Friday, when the US government cracked down on major online poker sites, would reduce the WSOP entry field. Many players had their entry fees locked up and couldn’t access their funds. Despite this, the 2011 WSOP main event drew 6,855 players, making it the third-largest in the series’ history.

After several days of intense play, the November Nine for 2011 is now set. John Hewitt was the unlucky tenth place finisher. He started playing very conservatively but then made questionable all-in calls. Hewitt’s final shove with pocket 3’s led to his elimination, delighting the remaining nine players.

The November Nine players

Seat 1: Matt Giannetti, 26, from the USA, with 24,750,000 chips (third). Matt, a poker pro from Las Vegas, showed resilience during Day 8 and managed to survive several all-ins.

Seat 2: Badih Bounahra, 49, from Belize, with 19,700,000 chips (sixth). Badih, the first player from Belize to make it to the final table, brings age and experience to the table.

Seat 3: Eoghan O’Dea, 36, from Ireland, with 33,925,000 chips (second). Eoghan and his father are the only father and son combination to ever make it to the final table of the WSOP.

Seat 4: Phil Collins, 26, from the USA, with 23,875,000 chips (fourth). This isn’t the more famous Phil Collins, although Phil has been making a name for himself in the poker world of late.

Seat 5: Anton Makievskyi, 21, from Ukraine, with 13,825,000 chips (eighth). The youngest person at the final table, Anton has certainly made the most of his first trip to the WSOP.

Seat 6: Sam Holden, 22, from England, with 12,375,000 chips (ninth). Both Sam and Anton have relatively low stacks, but these brash young Europeans aren’t to be counted out.

Seat 7: Pius Heinz, 22, from Germany, with 16,425,000 chips (seventh). Pius, another young first-timer to the WSOP, is the first German player to ever make the final table.

Seat 8: Ben Lamb, 26, from the USA, with 20,875,000 chips (fifth). Ben is the most accomplished player at this year’s final table and is the favorite to win Player of the Year at this year’s WSOP.

Seat 9: Martin Staszko, 35, from the Czech Republic, with 40,175,000 chips (first). Martin is an experienced pro and is the first player from the Czech Republic ever to play at the final table of the WSOP main event.

Payouts for the final table

• First place: $8.7 million
• Second place: $5.4 million
• Third place: $4.0 million
• Fourth place: $3.0 million
• Fifth place: $2.2 million
• Sixth place: $1.7 million
• Seventh place: $1.3 million
• Eighth place: $1.0 million
• Ninth place: $782K

With so much money on the line, the final table promises to be very exciting. We’ll have a recap for you after the event, so stay tuned.