The WSOP November Nine, 2009

Well this year's November Nine are set. Last year you had 1 known player going in... this time you have 3.

Of course, one of those known players is none other than Phil Ivey, who needs to finish 3rd or better to become the #1 tournament earner of all time, passing Jaime Gold.

You have Jeff Shulman, the CEO of CardPlayer Magazine, who has decided to stir up some controversy with some statements he has made the past few days... Linky

The third player that's known is James Akenhead. Now, I had heard of that name before but couldn't remember exactly from where. I looked him up and saw that he finished second in a $1500 No Limit Event in the 2008 WSOP; this was the final hand: Linky

The other 6 players I have never heard of until this WSOP.

Seat 1 is The Chip Leader, Darvin Moon, who has zero earnings up to this point.

Seat 2 is Akenhead.

Seat 3 is Ivey.

In Seat 4 you have Kevin Schaffel, a 51-year-old who is making this his 3rd Main Event Cash, including a 42nd place finish in 2004 (Raymer Year)

In Seat 5 we have Steven Begleiter, also with 0 career prior cashes and is from Chappequa, NY (home of Bill and Hillary Clinton)

Eric Buchman is in Seat 6, and has had nearly $1 million in earnings, mostly coming from 2 runner-up finishes; one in a $1500 Limit WSOP event in 2006, and another in the $10,000 WSOP Circuit event in Atlantic City. He is ALSO from the great state of New York, and a little closer to me too, in Valley Stream (right on the New York City border)

Seat 7 is Joseph Cada, from Michigan, making his 3rd WSOP Cash; the first two were also from this year, both in $1500 No Limit Hold 'em Events

Sitting in Seat 8 Antoine Saout is a frenchman with 0 earnings coming in.

And Seat 9 is Jeff Schulman.

Here is a List of the players and their chip counts:

Seat 1: Darvin Moon — 58,930,000
Seat 2: James Akenhead — 6,800,000
Seat 3: Phil Ivey — 9,765,000
Seat 4: Kevin Schaffel — 12,390,000
Seat 5: Steven Begleiter — 29,885,000
Seat 6: Eric Buchman — 34,800,000
Seat 7: Joseph Cada — 13,215,000
Seat 8: Antoine Saout — 9,500,000
Seat 9: Jeff Shulman — 19,580,000

And now, basing my logic on these stats and prior results, the November Nine, in my opinion, will fall like this:

9. Antoine Saout
8. James Akenhead
7. Joseph Cada
6. Kevin Schaffel
5. Jeff Shulman
4. Steven Begleiter
3. Phil Ivey
2. Darwin Moon
1. Eric Buchman

I'll be rooting hard for Buchman (LI boy) and Ivey (If a known player wins it all, it will be huge for poker)

-Kenny