Reintroducing the final nine players in the World Series of Poker Main Event

Play resumes Saturday at the Rio and concludes Tuesday

The “November Nine” reach for a championship bracelet after making it to the final table during the World Series of Poker $10,000 buy-in, no-limit Texas Hold ‘em main event at the Rio early Wednesday morning July 20, 2011. The players will come back in November for the final table. From left are: Badih Bounahra of Belize, Phil Collins of Las Vegas, Matt Giannetti of Las Vegas, Pius Heinz of Germany, Sam Holden of Britain, Ben Lamb of Las Vegas, Anton Makiievskyi of Ukraine, Eoghan O’Dea of Ireland and Martin Staszko of the Czech Republic.

By Case Keefer (contact)

Thursday, Nov. 3, 2011 | 2:05 a.m.

2011 World Series of Poker section

The World Series of Poker implemented its November Nine format four years ago so that fans could get to know the players competing at the final table for the game’s biggest prize.

But the four-month layoff between the last day of play in the summer and the final table can work the other way, too. If fans followed the tournament while it happened but failed to watch ESPN’s ensuing weekly episodes, they have likely forgotten about the nine men who emerged out of a field of 6,865 players.

Click through below to become re-acquainted with the 2011 November Nine, who will play for the gold bracelet and $8.7 million first-place prize starting noon Sunday at the Penn & Teller Theater in the Rio.

A quote is provided from World Series of Poker commentator Lon McEachern on each of the finalists. Their career earnings to date, according to poker database The Hendon Mob, are also listed and include the $782,155 they earned by making it this far.

Photo by Steve Marcus
Seat 1: Matt Giannetti

Chips: 24,750,000 (3rd)

Age: 26

From: Las Vegas

Odds to win: 5-to-1

Career tournament earnings: $1,570,412

McEachern Quote: “Giannetti is mostly a live cash game player, so is Ben Lamb, so their live experience holds up real well here. It’s just a matter of tweaking it for this tournament.”
Photo by Steve Marcus
Seat 2: Badih Bounahra

Chips: 19,700,000 (6th)

Age: 49

From: Belize City, Belize

Odds to win: 9-to-1

Career tournament earnings: $854, 881

McEachern Quote: “I think he embodies what we love about the main event. It is a people’s championship. Even though we do see mostly pros at this table, to have a guy like him at the final table adds so much life and color to it.”
Photo by Steve Marcus
Seat 3: Eoghan O’Dea

Chips: 33,925,000 (2nd)

Age: 26

From: Dublin, Ireland

Odds to win: 4-to-1

Career tournament earnings: $1,574,877

McEachern Quote: “Eoghan O’Dea has a tremendous amount of live experience and he’s successful at it.”
Photo by Steve Marcus
Seat 4: Phil Collins

Chips: 23,875,000 (4th)

Age: 26

From: Las Vegas

Odds to win: 6-to-1

Career tournament earnings: $907,815

McEachern Quote: “He’s mostly an online player, but he’s certainly figured out the nuances of the live game.”
Photo by Steve Marcus
Seat 5: Anton Makiievskyi

Chips: 13,825,000 (8th)

Age: 21

From: Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine

Odds to win: 12-to-1

Career tournament earnings: $850,887

McEachern Quote: “I wish Makiievskyi had more chips to play with so he could fly with his wings outstretched completely. I think he might be a little hamstrung right now.”
Photo by Steve Marcus
Seat 6: Sam Holden

Chips: 12,375,000 (9th)

Age: 22

From: Sussex, UK

Odds to win: 14-to-1

Career tournament earnings: $793,426

McEachern Quote: “The youth is being served. We see it time-and-time again.”
Photo by Steve Marcus
Seat 7: Pius Heinz

Chips: 16,425,000 (7th)

Age: 22

From: Cologne, Germany

Odds to win: 10-to-1

Career tournament earnings: $890,541

McEachern Quote: “The guys internationally who are young can play online. And now, we’re seeing them excel in the live arena as well.”
Photo by Steve Marcus
Seat 8: Ben Lamb

Chips: 20,875,000 (5th)

Age: 26

From: Las Vegas

Odds: 7-to-1

Career tournament earnings: $3,347,334

McEachern Quote: “The one who’s on everyone’s short list is Ben Lamb just because of the year he’s had and the experience he’s had.”
Photo by Steve Marcus
Seat 9: Martin Staszko

Chips: 40,175,000 (1st)

Age: 35

From: Trinec, Czech Republic

Odds: 5-to-2

Career tournament earnings: $872,266

McEachern Quote: “Staszko was so short on day seven and on day eight. He had 4 million chips at one point during day eight and he ended the day with 40 million. So, they’re all dangerous.”