Ok - Early morning, drinking some joe and thinking poker already.... We are just a few days away from the 2009 final table action at the world series of poker in Las Vegas. Phil Ivey has all eyes on him. Can he take a small stack and double up? (He still has a good few orbits in him) What will be his plan of attack? Will the big stacks keep the pressure up early? The stakes are high and the table is set for some great poker strategy. Darvin Moon - 58,930,000 Darvin Moon? Will he hold the lead? Will this loggers life be changed forever? He's a satellite winner with a very good shot at a wsop bracelet. It's rare for the big stack to stay the big stack but we will see how the card fly. He seems like a regular dude.. Not sure he's the best for pokers future.. but props to him for a great stack going in. I place him 3rd Eric Buchman - 34,800,000 From NY - a poker player with some serious cash winnings prior to this event. He plans on having all his friends to Vegas.. Another large stack.. It will be fun to see if he comes out ready for battle or lays low.. Steven Begleiter - 29,885,000 Winning his seat in the 2009 wsop via a home-game league - this player is one of my picks for the WIN. It's a great story with him being an amateur who is already saying he's won. Not the bracelet.. Just by being at the final table in this years event. He's quoted to have said.. "he's dancing between raindrops..in the middle of a minefield and somehow I'm still standing" Yes sir.. I'm pulling for this guy to be another Moneymaker. The other league members will chop 20% of his take.. (not bad.. not bad at all) Jeff Shulman - 19,580,000 Did you hear about a guy this year saying that if he won a wsop bracelet he'd throw it in the garbage? Yeppers.. That's this guy. He's most known as the editor of Card-Player Magazine who has lots to say about a lot of things. (I have to say - I think SPADE-CLUB is trash.. just my thoughts Jeff) I do agree that Harrahs has managed some parts of the series poorly. Jeff pretty much thinks he a favorite... It will make for exciting TV watching him work his angles at the felt. I put him in 6th place. Figuring people will attack him. Joseph Cada - 13,215,000 The youngest player in this years event will be this man.. Joseph Cada. He's a poker player with some really good winnings from on-line poker Full Tilt Poker Homepage - He took a break enjoying the Michigan summer and plans on doing the best with the cards he's dealt. He seems like he has a good head on his shoulders.. I'll be pulling for this guy too. I give him spot 5 Kevin Schaffel - 12,390,000 51 year old - Father of 2 with his second deep run at the main event. He has 168K in tourney winnings to date - so this cash will be his biggest pay day ever no matter what finish. He and his son are very excited! Kevin can't Wait to come back.. If it's meant to be, it's meant to be.. he said. Phil Ivey- 9,765,000 You know - YOU just KNOW!.. Phil has some plans on how he's going to climb the chip ladder this November.. He's a machine with way too many years experience. The question is - will the cards fly right for this legend of poker. How will the others play him? I can't see them not keeping him on the hot coals.. He's flying around in private jets (not sure I believe all this... hmmm Might just be good media hype for all the teenagers) and living the high-life. He's a poker legend with many years to come. If he pulls this feat off - it will be one hell of a short stack comeback and only seal the deal as to WHO the best player is in all of poker. (Sorry to my pal Phil Hellmuth) I hate to be a spoiler - but I put him on being out 7 or 8. No way these players are going to roll over for a guy who already has 2 bracelets in 2009. I predict - many players will push HIM around. For the sake of a good show.. I'd love to be wrong. Good luck to Mr. Ivey.. He deserves much respect but he's one big bulls-eye. Antoine Saout - 9,500,000 Antoine is from France.. Nobody likes the french... so I don't see this player doing much. ONLY KIDDING. (lol) He's another satellite winner (Everest poker) His mother was not liking that he decided to play poker for a living.. he's hoping this years final table showing will change her thinking. Go France. I'll put him 4th or so.. (Someone has to be the lucky short stack) James Akenhead - 6,800,000 Talk about a small stack... This Londoner is no BIG BEN at this years event. He's a member of an England based poker club called the "HIT SQUAD" so you know he's taking poker serious. He was a runner up in one of last years $1500 tourneys too.. So close! They say you have to lose one first right? He's looking to double up quick and make it happen. I'd give this player a nod if he gets lucky early - Top 5/6 for sure. The VOICE of PENNSYLVANIA POKER MrXfilespoker |
