2008 World Series of Poker

39th Annual World Series of Poker Main Event
Event Info

2008 World Series of Poker

Event Info
Buy-in
$10,000
Entries
6,844
Players Left
9
Next Payout
Place 9
$900,670
Level Info
Level
33
Blinds
120,000 / 240,000
Ante
30,000

Welcome to the Jungle

The ESPN Feature Table area is packed wall-to-wall with spectators, supporters, media, various poker pros, Harrah's executives, backers, hangers-on, and, of course, two cameras on dollies that circle the table and another mounted on a jib that sweeps overhead. The atmosphere is positively electric, with every move at the table scrutinized and "oohs" and "ahhs" emanating from the crowd with every turn of a card. Hands are taking longer and longer to play out, with each of these ten remaining players focused on making the November Nine.

For the tenth-place finisher, it's all over tonight. For the other nine, this is just the last stop before a four-month hiatus which will probably feel like the longest wait of their lives.

The Last Three Hands

Craig Marquis raised to 525,000 and won the blinds and antes.

Dennis Phillips raised to 600,000 and won the blinds and antes.

Craig Marquis raised to 525,000, Scott Montgomery called, Ivan Demidov reraised to 1,750,000 from the button, Marquis gave it up, Montgomery followed suit, and Demidov won the pot.

Ylon Schwartz Picks Up A-A (and a Huge Pot) on the First Hand Back

The Schwartz-Man
The Schwartz-Man
Craig Marquis raised to 525,000, Ylon Schwartz reraised to 1,625,000 from the button, Marquis four-bet to 4.5 million and Schwartz immediately moved all in. Marquis folded and Schwartz raked in the pot.

Schwartz showed {A-Clubs} {A-Diamonds}.

"Don't mess with the Schwartz-man!" implored one of Schwartz's supporters as he stacked his chips.

Schwartz is up over 15 million while Marquis falls to 7.5 million.

Tags: Craig MarquisYlon Schwartz

Who Wants Fifth-Place Money?

In this, the final installment of If They Chopped It, we can tell you that if the remaining prize pool was split evenly right now, each player would walk away with $3,322,531. This is slightly better than fifth-place money and is almost $300,000 more than Raymond Rahme picked up for his third-place finish just a year ago. Not that you needed more perspective, but this amount is also more than any champion prior to Greg Raymer received for a first-place finish.

As we reported a few days ago, the prize distribution is very "top heavy" in this year's Main Event with a total of 50.7 percent of the total prize money awarded to the final nine players.

It's Go Time!

The players have been introduced and the cards are in the air. With 47 minutes and 59 seconds remaining in level 32, play will continue until one more player is eliminated.

One Table... But Not the Final Table

Our ten remaining players have re-drawn for seats at the ESPN Feature Table. Play will continue until one more player is eliminated, and the "November Nine" are set. Here's the new lineup, with updated chip counts:

Seat 1: Dean Hamrick 12,460,000
Seat 2: Dennis Phillips 21,500,000
Seat 3: Craig Marquis 12,000,000
Seat 4: Ylon Schwartz 10,500,000
Seat 5: Scott Montgomery 20,635,000
Seat 6: Darus Suharto 16,425,000
Seat 7: David "Chino" Rheem 10,100,000
Seat 8: Ivan Demidov 18,700,000
Seat 9: Kelly Kim 4,430,000
Seat 10: Peter Eastgate 10,430,000

The button will start in Seat 4, with Ylon Schwartz. Shuffle up and deal!

It's Getting Serious

It's standing room only at the Milwaukee's Best Light ESPN Final Table area. "Electric," "exciting," and "a possible fire hazard" could all be used to describe the atmosphere at the final table area.

The final ten players are getting mic'd up and taking their seat. Nine will leave ecstatic; one will not. Tournament officials are doing a few color-ups and the cards should be in the air soon.