[toc]The final table of the World Series of Poker Main Event will play out from Oct. 30 until Nov. 1, crowning a world champion of poker who will take home $8 million.
The nine finalists will reconvene for the first time since July 18, sitting down to play for what is undoubtedly the biggest game of their lives.
Who’s at the final table?
Seat One: Griffin Benger (26,175,000)
Griffin Benger is a former esports professional and a tournament poker pro with over $5.5 million in live earnings and $3 million in online poker earnings on top of whatever he wins at this final table. He made himself very unpopular in recent broadcasts, but he definitely has the skills to go all the way.
Seat Two: Vojtech Ruzicka (27,300,000)
Czech poker pro Vojtech Ruzicka is second on the all-time money list for his country and will be hoping to one-up WSOP 2011 runner-up Martin Staszko to take the top spot.
He has over $1.2 million in earnings before this WSOP, so we won’t bet against him!
Seat Three: Fernando Pons (6,150,000)
Spaniard Fernando Pons is the shortest stack at the final table by quite a wide margin and the odds-on favourite to be first out. He’s already guaranteed a million, though he’ll certainly have his eye on another seven on top of it!
Seat Four: Qui Nguyen (67,295,000)
Qui Nguyen is a baccarat enthusiast and Las Vegas resident who has barely any poker tournament cashes to his name. He’s full of gamble and his trademark racoon hat is sure to make a mark at the final table even if he doesn’t. We’re rooting for him.
Seat Five: Cliff Josephy (74,600,000)
Known in the world of online poker as “JohnnyBax,” Cliff Josephy is the oldest and most accomplished player at the final table.
That, plus the chip lead and position on his nearest rival, makes him the firm favourite to take home the title.
Seat Six: Michael Ruane (31,600,000)
The youngest player at the final table, Michael Ruane held the chip lead for much of the latter part of the tournament, picking up cards in the right spots and playing well to make it to the November Nine.
The luck of the table draw isn’t with him, but who knows?
Seat Seven: Gordon Vayo (49,375,000)
He’s become unpopular with the UK crowd over his clashes with Will Kassouf, but Gordon Vayo is third in chips and in a great position to make his mark on the final table with Josephy and Nguyen to his right.
Seat Eight: Kenny Hallaert (43,325,000)
Belgian poker tournament director Kenny Hallaert has been around the poker world for years and absolutely loves the game: playing, directing, watching – he’s mad for it. His passion and a pretty decent chip stack could well give Belgium their first Main Event title.
Seat Nine: Jerry Wong (10,175,000)
Professional poker player Jerry Wong already boasted more than $1.3 million in live tournament cashes before making the November Nine. He’s one of the shorter stacks at the table, but very experienced and may prove formidable.
