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 reason for the delay was so that ESPN could cover the rest of the tournament leading up to the final table without viewers knowing the winner in advance.^[2]

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 had more than a 50 percent increase in the number of viewers and the number of households that watched it.^[6] The broadcast later received an Emmy Award nomination for "Outstanding Live Event Turnaround."^[7]

Key

Name	Name of the player (listed in order of starting chip stack).
Starting chip count	The starting chip stack 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

Main articles: 2008 World Series of Poker and 2008 World Series of Poker results

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

Main articles: 2009 World Series of Poker and 2009 World Series of Poker results

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 has 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 to ever win the WSOP Main Event.^[14]

2010

Main articles: 2010 World Series of Poker and 2010 World Series of Poker results

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

Main articles: 2011 World Series of Poker and 2011 World Series of Poker results

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, made 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 WSOP-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.